Trusting God’s sovereignty is the only true path away from prideful boasting.
I said to the boastful, “Do not boast,” And to the wicked, “Do not lift up the horn;” (v.4). This exhortation from Psalm 75:4 is traditionally attributed to Asaph, a Levite choir leader who served under King David around 1000 BC. The imagery of the “horn” in this passage signifies human strength or pride; to “lift up the horn” conveys the idea of exalting oneself above others or despising God’s authority. In this verse, the psalmist (speaking for God) urges those who are proud and those who practice wickedness to abandon their arrogance, indicating that true power and judgment come from the Almighty.
By telling “the boastful” to stop boasting, the psalm conveys a strong caution about the futility of pride. Pride sets the heart against God’s sovereignty, as it presumes self-sufficiency rather than recognizing the Creator’s ultimate rule and provision (1 Peter 5:5). The psalmist also warns the wicked “do not lift up the horn,” pointing to the peril that comes when people rely on their own strength or deal unjustly with others. Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent theme: the humble will be exalted, but the proud will be brought low (Luke 14:11).
This instruction also carries a hopeful promise: repentant hearts and humble attitudes can find favor before God. When we acknowledge that all power and authority originate with Him, we avoid the snare of empty self-exaltation.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 75:4 meaning
I said to the boastful, “Do not boast,” And to the wicked, “Do not lift up the horn;” (v.4). This exhortation from Psalm 75:4 is traditionally attributed to Asaph, a Levite choir leader who served under King David around 1000 BC. The imagery of the “horn” in this passage signifies human strength or pride; to “lift up the horn” conveys the idea of exalting oneself above others or despising God’s authority. In this verse, the psalmist (speaking for God) urges those who are proud and those who practice wickedness to abandon their arrogance, indicating that true power and judgment come from the Almighty.
By telling “the boastful” to stop boasting, the psalm conveys a strong caution about the futility of pride. Pride sets the heart against God’s sovereignty, as it presumes self-sufficiency rather than recognizing the Creator’s ultimate rule and provision (1 Peter 5:5). The psalmist also warns the wicked “do not lift up the horn,” pointing to the peril that comes when people rely on their own strength or deal unjustly with others. Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent theme: the humble will be exalted, but the proud will be brought low (Luke 14:11).
This instruction also carries a hopeful promise: repentant hearts and humble attitudes can find favor before God. When we acknowledge that all power and authority originate with Him, we avoid the snare of empty self-exaltation.