35 Bible Verses for Low Self-Esteem

The mirror reflects someone you struggle to value. Critical voices from your past echo louder than any compliments you receive today. You minimize your accomplishments, assume others are just being polite when they praise you, and constantly compare yourself to everyone else, always finding yourself lacking. Social situations trigger anxiety because you’re convinced you don’t belong or have nothing worthwhile to contribute. Low self-esteem whispers that you’re not smart enough, attractive enough, talented enough, or simply enough to matter.

These negative self-perceptions often develop from childhood experiences, past failures, or the relentless comparison culture of social media. You might believe that humility means thinking poorly of yourself or that confidence conflicts with Christian virtue. Perhaps years of criticism have convinced you that self-worth must be earned through performance, and you never quite measure up to your own impossible standards.

The Bible offers a radically different foundation for self-worth that doesn’t depend on your performance, appearance, or achievements. Scripture reveals your value through God’s eyes: created in His image, chosen by Him, loved unconditionally, and equipped with unique gifts and purposes. These verses provide a divine perspective on your identity and worth that no human opinion or personal failure can diminish.

Bible Verses for Low Self-Esteem

1. Psalm 139:14 – I Praise You Because I Am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

New International Version (NIV)

2. Ephesians 2:10 – For We Are God’s Handiwork

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

English Standard Version (ESV)

3. 1 John 3:1 – See What Great Love the Father Has Lavished on Us

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!

New Living Translation (NLT)

4. Genesis 1:27 – So God Created Mankind in His Own Image

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

New King James Version (NKJV)

5. Romans 8:37 – No, in All These Things We Are More Than Conquerors

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

6. Isaiah 43:4 – Since You Are Precious and Honored in My Sight

Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

7. Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I Formed You in the Womb I Knew You

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

King James Version (KJV)

8. 1 Peter 2:9 – But You Are a Chosen People

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

9. Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord Your God Is with You

The Lord your God is right there with you, as a Warrior who saves. He will joyfully celebrate over you, he will rest in his love for you, he will joyfully sing because of you.

The Message (MSG)

10. Romans 5:8 – But God Demonstrates His Own Love for Us

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

11. Ephesians 1:4 – For He Chose Us in Him

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and blameless in his sight in love.

New English Translation (NET)

12. 1 Corinthians 6:20 – You Were Bought at a Price

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God with your body.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

13. Psalm 8:4-5 – What Is Mankind That You Are Mindful of Them?

I ask, “Why do you care about us humans? Why do you think about us mere mortals? You made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor.”

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

14. Matthew 10:31 – So Don’t Be Afraid; You Are Worth More

So don’t be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

Good News Translation (GNT)

15. Galatians 4:7 – So You Are No Longer a Slave

So now you are not a slave; you are God’s child, and God will give you the blessing he promised, because you are his child.

New Century Version (NCV)

16. Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s Chosen People

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

International Standard Version (ISV)

17. Romans 8:15 – The Spirit You Received Does Not Make You Slaves

For you have not received a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Tree of Life Version (TLV)

18. Isaiah 49:16 – See, I Have Engraved You on the Palms of My Hands

Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

Lexham English Bible (LEB)

19. John 15:16 – You Did Not Choose Me, but I Chose You

You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

World English Bible (WEB)

20. Psalm 17:8 – Keep Me as the Apple of Your Eye

Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

American Standard Version (ASV)

21. Hebrews 4:16 – Let Us Then Approach God’s Throne of Grace

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

22. Ephesians 3:18-19 – May Have Power, Together with All the Lord’s Holy People

may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

New American Bible (NAB)

23. 2 Timothy 1:7 – For God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear

For God hath not giuen vs the spirit of feare, but of power, and of loue, and of a sound minde.

Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)

24. Romans 8:31 – What, Then, Shall We Say in Response?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

English Revised Version (ERV)

25. Psalm 139:13 – For You Created My Inmost Being

For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother’s belly.

Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

26. 1 John 4:19 – We Love Because He First Loved Us

We love, because he first loved us.

Darby Translation (DARBY)

27. Philippians 4:13 – I Can Do All This Through Him

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Weymouth New Testament (WNT)

28. Isaiah 62:3 – You Will Be a Crown of Splendor

And thou schalt be a coroun of glorie in the hond of the Lord, and a diademe of the rewme in the hond of thi God.

Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

29. Song of Songs 4:7 – You Are Altogether Beautiful, My Darling

Thou art all faire, my loue, and there is no spot in thee.

Geneva Bible (GNV)

30. 1 Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord Looks at the Heart

But the Lorde sayde vnto Samuel: Loke not on his fashion, nor on the height of his stature, because I haue refused hym: for God seeth not as man seeth. For man loketh on the outwarde appearaunce: but the Lorde beholdeth the heart.

Bishop’s Bible

31. Matthew 6:26 – Look at the Birds of the Air

Beholde the foules of the ayre: for they sowe not, nether reepe, nor yet cary into the barnes: and yet youre heuenly father fedeth them. Are ye not moche better then they?

Tyndale Bible

32. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, If Anyone Is in Christ

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

The Living Bible (TLB)

33. Jeremiah 31:3 – The Lord Appeared to Us in the Past

I have always loved you, my people, with an endless love. With loving-kindness I have drawn you to myself.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

34. Psalm 139:16 – Your Eyes Saw My Unformed Body

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in Your book!

The Voice Bible (VOICE)

35. 1 John 4:4 – You, Dear Children, Are from God

Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the battle against these people. That’s because the one who is in you is more powerful than the one who is in the world.

New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)

Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Low Self-Esteem

Scripture provides a radically different foundation for self-worth than what culture offers. Rather than basing value on performance, appearance, achievements, or others’ opinions, the Bible establishes our worth in God’s unconditional love and creative intention. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in His image, chosen before the foundation of the world, and so valuable that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This worth is given, not earned, and cannot be diminished by failure or enhanced by success.

What’s particularly healing about the biblical approach to self-esteem is how it addresses both our inherent dignity and our need for transformation. The Bible doesn’t ignore our flaws or pretend we’re perfect, but it places our identity in who God says we are rather than in our performance. We’re simultaneously sinners in need of grace and beloved children created for good works. This balanced perspective allows for honest self-assessment without self-condemnation.

Scripture also reveals that true confidence comes from a relationship with God rather than from self-improvement projects. When we understand that we’re already chosen, loved, and equipped by God, we’re freed from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn worth through achievement. This doesn’t lead to pride but to grateful humility that recognizes all good things as gifts from God and enables us to serve others from security rather than insecurity.

Say This Prayer

Heavenly Father, I struggle to see myself the way You see me. The voices of criticism and comparison are often louder than Your voice of love and acceptance. I find myself constantly measuring my worth by my performance, appearance, and achievements, always falling short of impossible standards. Help me to understand my true identity and value through Your eyes rather than through the lens of my failures and fears.

Thank You that You created me in Your image with intention and purpose. Help me to believe that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen by You, and deeply loved not because of what I do but because of who You are. When negative thoughts about myself flood my mind, replace them with Your truth about my identity in Christ.

Show me the unique gifts and abilities You’ve given me, and help me to use them with confidence rather than hiding in fear of inadequacy. Heal the wounds from past criticism and rejection that have shaped my self-perception. Surround me with people who affirm Your truth about me and challenge the lies I believe about myself.

Most importantly, help my self-worth to be anchored in Your unchanging love rather than in fluctuating circumstances, others’ opinions, or my own performance. Let Your acceptance of me give me courage to step boldly into the calling and purposes You have for my life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.