The Bible is full of stories about war. In fact, there are over 100 passages that refer to war and conflict. Some of these passages describe the battles between Israel and its enemies. Other passages talk about internal conflicts within Israel or even the Christian church.
The Bible is also filled with examples of people who were able to find peace despite difficult circumstances. In some cases, this meant simply accepting what was happening and trusting that God had a plan for them (see Deuteronomy 1:39–40). In other cases, it meant fighting back against injustice (see 2 Samuel 22:2).
No matter your circumstances or how you choose to respond to them, God’s word will help guide you through any conflict you encounter—whether it be with yourself or with others.
Bible Verses About Warfare
Ecclesiastes 3:8 ESV / 546 helpful votes
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
Matthew 24:6 ESV / 327 helpful votes
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.
Romans 7:21-25 ESV / 230 helpful votes
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Jeremiah 51:20 ESV / 215 helpful votes
“You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms;
James 4:1-2 ESV / 212 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.
Exodus 15:3 ESV / 203 helpful votes
The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.
Proverbs 21:31 ESV / 193 helpful votes
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Psalm 144:1-2 ESV / 193 helpful votes
Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
Deuteronomy 20:1-4 ESV / 161 helpful votes
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
Romans 12:18 ESV / 156 helpful votes
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Matthew 5:9 ESV / 151 helpful votes
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Isaiah 2:4 ESV / 115 helpful votes
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.
Ephesians 6:11 ESV / 110 helpful votes
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Isaiah 25:8 ESV / 104 helpful votes
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV / 97 helpful votes
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV / 89 helpful votes
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 86 helpful votes
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.
Proverbs 21:15 ESV / 86 helpful votes
When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
Romans 12:19 ESV / 72 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.”
Matthew 10:28 ESV / 70 helpful votes
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Romans 13:4 ESV / 61 helpful votes
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.
Exodus 20:13 ESV / 55 helpful votes
“You shall not murder.
Revelation 12:7-11 ESV / 50 helpful votes
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Zechariah 10:5 ESV / 45 helpful votes
They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV / 44 helpful votes
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Isaiah 19:2 ESV / 44 helpful votes
And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom;
Romans 8:37 ESV / 43 helpful votes
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Matthew 26:52-53 ESV / 43 helpful votes
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Romans 13:1-5 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 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. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Matthew 24:6-7 ESV / 40 helpful votes
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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 10:36 ESV / 40 helpful votes
And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
Psalm 144:1 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Of David. Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
Ephesians 6:14 ESV / 38 helpful votes
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Matthew 26:52 ESV / 35 helpful votes
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
Jude 1:19 ESV / 34 helpful votes
It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
2 Timothy 2:3 ESV / 34 helpful votes
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Micah 7:8 ESV / 34 helpful votes
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 31 helpful votes
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 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. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …
Luke 12:51 ESV / 31 helpful votes
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 31 helpful votes
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Revelation 6:4 ESV / 30 helpful votes
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.
James 4:7 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2 Timothy 2:4 ESV / 29 helpful votes
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / 29 helpful votes
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
John 16:33 ESV / 29 helpful votes
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Joel 3:9 ESV / 29 helpful votes
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.
Deuteronomy 20:4 ESV / 29 helpful votes
For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
Joshua 1:9 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 26 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Romans 13:1-14 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 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. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …
John 18:36 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Luke 22:36 ESV / 25 helpful votes
He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Proverbs 24:6 ESV / 25 helpful votes
For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Psalm 18:39 ESV / 25 helpful votes
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.
Revelation 3:21 ESV / 24 helpful votes
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
1 Timothy 1:18 ESV / 24 helpful votes
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,
Matthew 5:38-45 ESV / 24 helpful votes
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. …
Judges 7:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes
That same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.
John 14:27 ESV / 23 helpful votes
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Matthew 10:34 ESV / 23 helpful votes
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 ESV / 23 helpful votes
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; …
Psalm 68:30 ESV / 23 helpful votes
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.
2 Chronicles 24:24 ESV / 23 helpful votes
Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
Exodus 17:16 ESV / 23 helpful votes
Saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
John 10:10 ESV / 22 helpful votes
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Revelation 12:7 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
Romans 13:1-4 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 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.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 21 helpful votes
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
James 4:2 ESV / 20 helpful votes
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.
Hebrews 11:33-37 ESV / 20 helpful votes
Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—
1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV / 20 helpful votes
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:10-18 ESV / 20 helpful votes
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” …
Luke 14:31 ESV / 20 helpful votes
Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Matthew 24:36 ESV / 20 helpful votes
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Matthew 8:5-10 ESV / 20 helpful votes
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” …
Jeremiah 46:15 ESV / 20 helpful votes
Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them down.
2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 19 helpful votes
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Jeremiah 51:15-30 ESV / 19 helpful votes
“It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, and there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish. Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name. …
Proverbs 10:12 ESV / 19 helpful votes
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Deuteronomy 20:17-18 ESV / 19 helpful votes
But you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 20:8 ESV / 19 helpful votes
And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’
Revelation 2:11 ESV / 18 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.’
Jude 1:2 ESV / 18 helpful votes
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
1 Peter 2:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
Romans 2:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes
For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Jeremiah 7:33 ESV / 18 helpful votes
And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away.
Isaiah 18:6 ESV / 18 helpful votes
They shall all of them be left to the birds of prey of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth. And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.
Isaiah 13:15 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
2 Timothy 4:18 ESV / 17 helpful votes
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:7 ESV / 17 helpful votes
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV / 17 helpful votes
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 7:5 ESV / 17 helpful votes
For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
Psalm 76:3 ESV / 17 helpful votes
There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
2 Samuel 22:35 ESV / 17 helpful votes
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Deuteronomy 20:1 ESV / 17 helpful votes
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Revelation 2:7 ESV / 16 helpful votes
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
2 Timothy 2:10 ESV / 16 helpful votes
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Ephesians 6:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
1 Samuel 30:8 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”
