What Does the Bible Say About Quarreling?
Here are 18 Bible verses about quarreling, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 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.
- #2Proverbs 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.
- #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.
- #4Proverbs 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.
- #5James 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.
- #6Titus 3:9-11
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
BSBBut avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.
- #7Titus 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.
- #8Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
BSBDo everything without complaining or arguing,
- #9James 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?
- #102 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
BSBBut reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
- #11Proverbs 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.
- #12Proverbs 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.
- #13Proverbs 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.
- #14Romans 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.
- #15Ephesians 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.
- #16Romans 14:1-23
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. …
BSBAccept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. …
- #17Proverbs 21:19
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
BSBBetter to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
- #182 Timothy 2:14
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
BSBRemind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).