What Does the Bible Say About Attentiveness?

Hebrews 2:1 ESV / 43 helpful votes

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Matthew 13:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

Revelation 1:3 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 17 helpful votes

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Proverbs 4:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

James 1:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Proverbs 15:31 ESV / 14 helpful votes

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Proverbs 1:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

John 5:24 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

Matthew 13:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

John 15:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Revelation 2:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

John 10:27 ESV / 8 helpful votes

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Luke 10:38-41 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

Proverbs 8:34 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

Psalm 25:12-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

Revelation 3:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Matthew 13:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Proverbs 18:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

John 14:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Luke 11:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Numbers 24:1-14 ESV / 6 helpful votes

When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! ...

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Luke 6:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Mark 6:30-35 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. ...

Matthew 7:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Jeremiah 3:1-25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the Lord. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth— will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” ...

Isaiah 11:1-16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. ...

Isaiah 6:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Ecclesiastes 7:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

Proverbs 1:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Psalm 130:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

1 Samuel 3:1-21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. ...

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 4 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,

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

Matthew 7:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Zechariah 7:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.

Jeremiah 13:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.

Isaiah 30:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord;

Proverbs 4:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.

Proverbs 2:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,

Nehemiah 1:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 1:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.

Deuteronomy 12:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.

Leviticus 18:1-30 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. ...

Ezekiel 33:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Leviticus 25:1-55 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. ...

54 Bible Verses about Attentiveness

Hebrews 2:1 ESV / 43 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 13:16 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:3 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 4:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:31 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 5:24 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 13:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 2:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:27 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 10:38-41 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:34 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 25:12-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 3:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 13:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 11:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 24:1-14 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 6:30-35 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 3:1-25 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 11:1-16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 6:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 7:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 130:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 3:1-21 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Zechariah 7:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 13:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 30:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 4:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 2:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nehemiah 1:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nehemiah 1:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 12:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 18:1-30 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 33:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 25:1-55 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)