What Does the Bible Say About Fighting Back?
Here are 12 Bible verses about fighting back, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #11 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
BSBIf we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- #2Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
BSBa time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
- #3Psalms 144:1
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
BSBOf David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
- #4Matthew 12:36-37
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
BSBBut I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- #5Romans 13:4
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
BSBFor he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
- #6John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
BSBI have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- #7James 4:1-2
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
BSBWhat causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
- #81 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
BSBAbstain from every form of evil.
- #9James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
BSBSubmit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- #10Philippians 3:2
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
BSBWatch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
- #11Proverbs 21:15
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
BSBJustice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
- #12Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
BSBBut I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).