Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Kings?

Here are 10 Bible verses about kings, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

  1. #1Romans 13:1

    Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

    BSBEveryone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

  2. #2Proverbs 21:1

    The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

    BSBThe king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

  3. #3Proverbs 29:4

    The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

    BSBBy justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.

  4. #4Proverbs 31:4-8

    It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

    BSBIt is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

  5. #5Ecclesiastes 10:20

    Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

    BSBDo not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

  6. #6Revelation 1:6

    And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

    BSBwho has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

  7. #71 Samuel 8:11-17

    And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. …

    BSBHe said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots. He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. …

  8. #8Romans 15:4

    For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

    BSBFor everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

  9. #91 Peter 2:17

    Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

    BSBTreat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

  10. #10Luke 22:25

    And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

    BSBSo Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

Kings in Torrey's Topical Textbook

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