60 Bible Verses about War
War is a topic that has been a part of human history for a long time, and the Bible has stories and teachings about it.
Some verses talk about how God helped people in battles, while others remind us that war is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, the Bible often encourages peace instead of war.
We will look at these verses to understand what the Bible says about war and how it can guide us in our thoughts and actions when it comes to conflicts and battles. Let’s explore these verses together to find wisdom and insights about war and peace in the Bible.
50 Bible Verses about War
Exodus 15:3
The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.”
Psalm 144:1
Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Psalm 18:34
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
Psalm 120:7
I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!”
Proverbs 20:18
Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.”
Psalm 68:30
Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.”
Psalm 46:9
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.”
Isaiah 2:4
He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Matthew 24:6
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”
James 4:1-2
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.”
2 Chronicles 20:15
And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.'”
Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Revelation 12:7
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back.”
Matthew 26:52
Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'”
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Micah 4:3
He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Romans 13:4
For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
2 Samuel 22:35
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
Jeremiah 51:20
You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms.”
Revelation 13:4
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?'”
2 Samuel 10:12
Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”
Psalm 35:1
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!”
1 Timothy 1:18
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.”
Joel 3:9-10
Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, ‘I am a warrior.'”
Judges 3:1
Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan.”
Revelation 17:14
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Deuteronomy 20:4
For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
Psalm 27:3
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.”
Revelation 19:11
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, he judges and makes war.”
Zechariah 14:3
Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.”
1 Corinthians 14:8
And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?”
1 Samuel 17:45
Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'”
Revelation 19:19
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.”
2 Samuel 23:8
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Psalm 60:12
With God, we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
Revelation 16:14
For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.”
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
2 Samuel 2:17
And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.”
Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Psalm 18:32
The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”
1 Chronicles 5:22
For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.”
Revelation 19:17
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, ‘Come, gather for the great supper of God.'”
Deuteronomy 1:30
The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.”
Psalm 44:5
Through you we push down our foes; through your name, we tread down those who rise up against us.”
Revelation 12:17
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”
2 Samuel 10:13
So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.”
Revelation 6:4
And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.”
Psalm 33:16-17
The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might, it cannot rescue.”
Revelation 11:7
And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.”
1 Chronicles 29:12
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand, it is to make great and to give strength to all.”
Revelation 17:14
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
1 Chronicles 22:18
Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people.”
Revelation 19:21
And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.”
Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Revelation 20:8-9
And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.”
Conclusion
These verses encompass a range of perspectives on war, from the divine to the human. Some emphasize the importance of trust in God during times of conflict, while others speak of the consequences and futility of war.
The Bible shares stories of battles and conflicts, often illustrating the role of divine intervention in these events. However, it also emphasizes the importance of seeking peace, reconciliation, and the ultimate vision of a world without war.
These verses remind us of the consequences of war, the need for wisdom in decision-making, and the call to be peacemakers. They encourage us to turn to God for guidance in times of conflict and to strive for peaceful resolutions whenever possible.
As we reflect on these verses, may we carry with us the lessons of both the victories and tragedies of war, seeking a future where humanity chooses the path of peace and compassion, working towards a world where “swords are beaten into plowshares,” and conflicts are resolved through dialogue and understanding.
