Definition:
The term "overweening" refers to an excessive pride or arrogance, often manifesting as an inflated sense of self-importance or presumptuousness. In a biblical context, overweening is considered a sin as it reflects a heart that is not aligned with humility and submission to God.

Biblical References and Themes:

1. Pride and Arrogance:
Overweening is closely associated with pride, which is frequently condemned in Scripture. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This verse highlights the destructive nature of overweening pride, suggesting that it leads to downfall and ruin.

2. Warnings Against Self-Exaltation:
The Bible consistently warns against self-exaltation and the dangers of overestimating one's own abilities or importance. In Romans 12:3, Paul advises, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." This admonition encourages believers to maintain a humble and realistic view of themselves.

3. Examples of Overweening in Scripture:
Several biblical figures exemplify the dangers of overweening pride. King Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, is a notable example. In Daniel 4:30, he boasts, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" His overweening pride leads to his temporary downfall and madness, demonstrating the consequences of such arrogance.

4. God's Opposition to the Proud:
Scripture makes it clear that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 states, "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" This verse underscores the spiritual principle that overweening pride places one in opposition to God, while humility aligns one with His favor.

5. Humility as a Virtue:
In contrast to overweening pride, humility is extolled as a virtue. Philippians 2:3-4 encourages believers, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This passage calls for a selfless attitude that prioritizes others over oneself, countering the self-centeredness of overweening pride.

6. The Example of Christ:
Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of humility, in stark contrast to overweening pride. Philippians 2:5-8 describes how Christ, though being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Instead, He humbled Himself by taking on human form and becoming obedient to death on a cross. This self-emptying act is the antithesis of overweening pride and serves as a model for believers.

Conclusion:
While the Bible does not use the term "overweening" explicitly, the concept is woven throughout Scripture as a caution against pride and arrogance. Believers are called to embrace humility, recognizing their dependence on God and valuing others above themselves.1. (a.) Unduly confident; arrogant; presumptuous; conceited.

2. (n.) Conceit; arrogance.

The Son of the Murket
... His eyes never left Ta-user for long, and his every word seemed to be inspired by
some overweening emotion. Aside from these there were others in the group. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xvii the son of.htm

The House of Offense
... I need never be afraid, therefore.". For a moment he was silent, while she sensed
that overweening hate and menace which charged the air about him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xi the house of.htm

A New Pretender
... When she recognized him, she started violently, smote her hands together and gazed
at him with such overweening joy written on her face, that he would have ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xiii a new pretender.htm

Faith Illustrated
... It is the same truth which kept the ancient disciples from overweening pride.
It is the sweet persuasion of his interest in Christ. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/faith illustrated.htm

Refutation of the Calumnies by which this Doctrine is Always ...
... Confirmed by passages of Augustine. 12. Objection, that the doctrine of predestination
produces overweening confidence and impiety. Different answers. 13. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 23 refutation of the.htm

The Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or ...
... Hence it is that their folly, the result not only of vain curiosity, but of licentious
desire and overweening confidence in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 the knowledge of.htm

Concerning Lowliness of Mind.
... For this it was that placed the publican before the Pharisee; whereas that, pride
I mean and an overweening spirit, surpassed even an incorporeal power, that ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/concerning lowliness of mind.htm

Concerning Man.
... sight and to the realm of thought, midway between greatness and lowliness, spirit
and flesh: for he is spirit by grace, but flesh by overweening pride: spirit ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xii concerning man.htm

John Chapter xviii. 13-27.
... its foundations. Where is now all that boldness of the promiser, and his
overweening confidence in himself beforehand? What now ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxiii john chapter xviii.htm

That Our Lawful Occupations do not Hinder us from Practicising ...
... of their duty; and in that case a man is neither to be so scrupulous as to abandon
good and lawful affairs by not going, nor so overweening and presumptuous as ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iv that our lawful.htm

Overweening (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Overweening (3 Occurrences). Proverbs 21:24 A proud and
haughty man, scorner is his name, even he that dealeth in overbearing pride. ...
/o/overweening.htm - 7k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... The battle of Emmaus is not mentioned, but "the thrice-accursed Nicanor," having
in overweening pride invited a thousand slavedealers to accompany him to buy ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an
overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations; an excessive ...
/v/vanity.htm - 39k

Overweight (1 Occurrence)

/o/overweight.htm - 7k

Overturns (3 Occurrences)

/o/overturns.htm - 7k

Conceit (14 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) An overweening idea of one's self; vanity. 6. (n.) Design; pattern. 7.
(vt) To conceive; to imagine. 8. (vi) To form an idea; to think. Int. ...
/c/conceit.htm - 11k

Self-conceit (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Conceit of one's self; an overweening opinion
of one's powers or endowments. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/self-conceit.htm - 6k

Elihu (11 Occurrences)
... from the whirlwind is: "darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge." Elihu thus
has a real function in the story, as honorable as overweening self-confidence ...
/e/elihu.htm - 15k

Person (807 Occurrences)
... He took "the form of a servant," and so was "made in the likeness of men." But His
doing this showed that He did not set overweening store by His state of ...
/p/person.htm - 49k

How can an elder come under the same condemnation as the devil (1 Timothy 3:6)? | GotQuestions.org

Overweening: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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