100 Bible Verses about Abuse

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 358 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 281 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Colossians 3:19 ESV / 266 helpful votes

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 249 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Proverbs 22:10 ESV / 238 helpful votes

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

Psalm 11:5 ESV / 232 helpful votes

The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

1 Corinthians 7:15 ESV / 230 helpful votes

But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV / 217 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Psalm 147:3 ESV / 201 helpful votes

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Proverbs 10:11 ESV / 193 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 171 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Psalm 9:9 ESV / 162 helpful votes

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 161 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 155 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

2 Timothy 3:1-8 ESV / 154 helpful votes

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ...

James 1:19-20 ESV / 151 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:26 ESV / 147 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

James 3:10 ESV / 145 helpful votes

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

James 5:16 ESV / 139 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 130 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence 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, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 128 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Psalm 103:6 ESV / 127 helpful votes

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

James 4:1-17 ESV / 123 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? ...

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 123 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 19:19 ESV / 123 helpful votes

A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 121 helpful votes

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Matthew 19:8 ESV / 119 helpful votes

He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 118 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 72:14 ESV / 116 helpful votes

From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 114 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV / 114 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Zephaniah 1:9 ESV / 114 helpful votes

On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud.

Ephesians 5:28-29 ESV / 111 helpful votes

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 111 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 109 helpful votes

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Malachi 2:16 ESV / 109 helpful votes

“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Proverbs 10:6 ESV / 109 helpful votes

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Exodus 22:22 ESV / 108 helpful votes

You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 107 helpful votes

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 12:19 ESV / 107 helpful votes

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

1 Peter 3:1-22 ESV / 106 helpful votes

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ...

Malachi 2:16-17 ESV / 106 helpful votes

“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Hebrews 13:3 ESV / 103 helpful votes

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 103 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 6:1 ESV / 103 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Psalm 34:18 ESV / 103 helpful votes

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Proverbs 22:24 ESV / 102 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV / 101 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 101 helpful votes

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Psalm 140:12 ESV / 101 helpful votes

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESV / 100 helpful votes

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Psalm 146:7 ESV / 100 helpful votes

Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 99 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 99 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

John 13:34 ESV / 98 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 98 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 97 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1 Peter 3:8 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Matthew 11:28 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2 Samuel 22:28 ESV / 96 helpful votes

You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

James 5:19-20 ESV / 94 helpful votes

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Titus 3:2 ESV / 94 helpful votes

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Romans 12:18 ESV / 94 helpful votes

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

James 4:7 ESV / 93 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ecclesiastes 7:26 ESV / 93 helpful votes

And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV / 92 helpful votes

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 92 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Mark 9:42 ESV / 92 helpful votes

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 91 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

2 Peter 1:7 ESV / 91 helpful votes

And godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Matthew 5:32 ESV / 90 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

James 3:17 ESV / 89 helpful votes

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Titus 2:4 ESV / 89 helpful votes

And so train the young women to love their husbands and children,

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 89 helpful votes

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 89 helpful votes

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Hebrews 12:12 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

Hebrews 10:24 ESV / 88 helpful votes

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

2 Thessalonians 3:15 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV / 87 helpful votes

To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

Jeremiah 22:3 ESV / 87 helpful votes

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

Luke 4:18-19 ESV / 86 helpful votes

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Colossians 3:18-21 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Mark 10:14 ESV / 85 helpful votes

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Matthew 15:18-20 ESV / 85 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Proverbs 9:7 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 83 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 83 helpful votes

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

1 John 4:18 ESV / 82 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Matthew 18:10 ESV / 81 helpful votes

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Malachi 2:13-16 ESV / 80 helpful votes

And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

1 Samuel 31:4 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.

1 Timothy 3:1-6 ESV / 79 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? ...

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 79 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Psalm 10:17-18 ESV / 79 helpful votes

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Corinthians 8:9 ESV / 77 helpful votes

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

Ephesians 5:21 ESV / 71 helpful votes

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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