Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Strife?

Here are 15 Bible verses about strife, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

  1. #12 Timothy 2:23-25

    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, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

    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. He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

  2. #2Proverbs 10:12

    Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

    BSBHatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

  3. #3Proverbs 16:28

    A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

    BSBA perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

  4. #4Proverbs 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.

  5. #5James 3:14-16

    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

    BSBBut if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

  6. #6Proverbs 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.

  7. #7Proverbs 26:20

    Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

    BSBWithout wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

  8. #8Galatians 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.

  9. #9Proverbs 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.

  10. #10Proverbs 28:25

    He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

    BSBA greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

  11. #11Proverbs 6:16-19

    These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

    BSBThere are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

  12. #12Proverbs 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.

  13. #13Proverbs 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.

  14. #14James 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?

  15. #15Matthew 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).

Strife in Torrey's Topical Textbook

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