Shame

Shame is the disgrace and exposure that follow sin, and also the reproach suffered by God's people. Shame entered with the fall, Christ endured shame, and those who trust God are not put to shame.

Shame and the fall

• Genesis 2:25
  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
  Show context · Read Genesis 2 →
• Genesis 3:7-10
  ⁷And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves. ⁸And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. ⁹And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?” ¹⁰And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.“I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
  Show context · Read Genesis 3 →

The shame of sin

• Ezra 9:6
  And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
  Show context · Read Ezra 9 →
• Jeremiah 3:25
  We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 3 →
• Romans 6:21
  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
  Show context · Read Romans 6 →

Christ endured shame

• Hebrews 12:2
  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 12 →
• Isaiah 50:6-7
  ⁶I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle. ⁷For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 50 →

Those who trust God not put to shame

• Psalm 25:2-3
  ²O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. ³Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.
  Show context · Read Psalm 25 →
• Psalm 34:5
  They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed.
  Show context · Read Psalm 34 →
• Isaiah 54:4
  Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 54 →
• Romans 10:11
  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
  Show context · Read Romans 10 →

Not ashamed of the gospel

• Romans 1:16
  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
  Show context · Read Romans 1 →
• 2 Timothy 1:12
  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
  Show context · Read 2 Timothy 1 →
• Mark 8:38
  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
  Show context · Read Mark 8 →

See also

• Guilt
• Forgiveness
• Identity in Christ
• Sin

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.