What Does the Bible Say About Quarrel?
Here are 22 Bible verses about quarrel, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
BSBTo start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- #2Proverbs 20:3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
BSBIt is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
- #32 Timothy 2:23-24
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
BSBBut reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- #4Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
BSBBut avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.
- #5Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
BSBDo everything without complaining or arguing,
- #6Proverbs 26:17
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
BSBLike one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
- #7Proverbs 18:6
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
BSBA fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
- #8Proverbs 15:18
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
BSBA hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- #9Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
BSBBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- #10James 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.
- #11Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
BSBAn angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- #12Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
BSBIf it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
- #13Romans 13:13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
BSBLet us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
- #14Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
BSBThe acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- #15Proverbs 26:21
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
BSBLike charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
- #16Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
BSBGet rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- #17James 4:1
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
BSBWhat causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
- #18Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
BSBGet rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
- #191 Corinthians 1:10-11
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
BSBI appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
- #20Proverbs 26:20-21
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
BSBWithout wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
- #21James 3:16
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
BSBFor where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- #22Matthew 18:15-17
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
BSBIf your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).