What Does the Bible Say About Quarrelsome?
Here are 21 Bible verses about quarrelsome, 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 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.
- #3Proverbs 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.
- #4Proverbs 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.
- #52 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.
- #6James 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?
- #71 Timothy 3:3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
BSBnot dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
- #8Proverbs 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.
- #9Proverbs 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.
- #10Proverbs 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.
- #112 Timothy 2:24
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
BSBAnd a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- #12Titus 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.
- #13Proverbs 22:10
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
BSBDrive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
- #14Proverbs 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.
- #15Proverbs 27:15
A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
BSBA constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
- #16James 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.
- #17Titus 3:2
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
BSBto malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.
- #18Proverbs 25:24
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
BSBBetter to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
- #19Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
BSBDo everything without complaining or arguing,
- #20Romans 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.
- #212 Timothy 2:24-26
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
BSBAnd a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).