Bible Verses

The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Murder

Created:
February 9, 2025
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Updated:
February 9, 2025
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Author:
Joseph Cox

Understanding what the Bible says about murder can be eye-opening. This article compiles 50 Bible verses that address the topic.

These verses offer insights into the moral and spiritual implications of taking a life. They provide a clear perspective on how murder is viewed in the scriptures.

50 Bible Verses About Murder

10 Bible Verses on Murder in Old Testament

Genesis 4:8
  • "Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." — Genesis 4:8
  • "You shall not murder." — Exodus 20:13
  • "Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death." — Leviticus 24:17
  • "But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death." — Numbers 35:16
  • "You shall not murder." — Deuteronomy 5:17
  • "But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises against him and strikes him mortally so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and bring him from there, and deliver him over to the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die." — Deuteronomy 19:11-12
  • "Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin by which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord." — 2 Kings 21:16
  • "And Saul cast the spear, for he said, 'I will pin David to the wall!' But David escaped his presence twice." — 1 Samuel 18:11
  • "In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.'" — 2 Samuel 11:14-15
  • "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know?" — Jeremiah 7:9

10 Bible Verses on Murder and Justice

Exodus 21:12
  • "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death." — Exodus 21:12
  • "Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty." — Numbers 35:30
  • "Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." — Deuteronomy 19:21
  • "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood," — Proverbs 6:16-17
  • "How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers." — Isaiah 1:21
  • "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." — Ezekiel 18:20
  • "But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream." — Amos 5:24
  • "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" — Micah 6:8
  • "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." — Psalm 82:3-4
  • "For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant." — Isaiah 61:8

10 Bible Verses on Murder and Repentance

2 Chronicles 7:14
  • "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." — 2 Chronicles 7:14
  • "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin." — Psalm 51:1-2
  • "Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon." — Isaiah 55:7
  • "But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live." — Ezekiel 18:21-22
  • "So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm." — Joel 2:13
  • "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." — Jonah 3:10
  • "O Israel, return to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, 'Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.'" — Hosea 14:1-2
  • "I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin." — Psalm 32:5
  • "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." — Proverbs 28:13
  • "Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth." — Jeremiah 31:19

10 Bible Verses on Murder and Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15
  • "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." — Matthew 6:14-15
  • "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' And they divided His garments and cast lots." — Luke 23:34
  • "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32
  • "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." — Colossians 3:13
  • "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" — Matthew 18:21-22
  • "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." — Mark 11:25
  • "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." — 1 John 1:9
  • "So that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow." — 2 Corinthians 2:7
  • "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." — Romans 12:19
  • "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." — Hebrews 8:12

10 Bible Verses on Murder in New Testament

Matthew 5:21-22
  • "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." — Matthew 5:21-22
  • "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." — Mark 7:21-23
  • "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" — Luke 18:20
  • "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." — John 8:44
  • "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers." — Acts 7:52
  • "For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" — Romans 13:9
  • "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." — 1 John 3:15
  • "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." — Revelation 21:8
  • "For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law." — James 2:11
  • "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters." — 1 Peter 4:15

What Does the Bible Say About Murder

The Bible has a lot to say about murder, and its teachings are clear and profound. These verses offer guidance on how to live a life that respects the sanctity of human life. They also provide a path to forgiveness and redemption for those who have strayed. By reflecting on these teachings, we can find ways to apply them in our daily lives, fostering a more compassionate and just world.

One key theme is the outright condemnation of murder. Verses like Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder," and Deuteronomy 5:17 make it clear that taking a life is a grave sin. This theme is consistent throughout both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of valuing human life.

Another important theme is justice. The Bible stresses that those who commit murder should face consequences. For example, Numbers 35:30 states, "Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses." This underscores the need for a fair and just society where wrongdoers are held accountable.

Repentance is also a significant theme. Verses like 2 Chronicles 7:14 encourage people to turn from their wicked ways and seek forgiveness. This offers hope that even those who have committed serious sins can find redemption if they genuinely repent.

Finally, the theme of forgiveness is powerful. Matthew 6:14-15 teaches that forgiving others is essential for receiving God's forgiveness. This message encourages us to let go of grudges and embrace a more forgiving attitude, which can lead to healing and reconciliation.

How to Apply These Bible Verses About Murder

Applying the Bible's teachings on murder to daily life is crucial for fostering a compassionate and just society. These verses guide us in valuing human life, seeking justice, and embracing forgiveness.

Here are some practical steps to live out these principles:

  • Practice Kindness: Make a habit of showing kindness to others, even in small ways. A smile or a kind word can make a big difference.
  • Seek Justice: Stand up for what is right. If you see someone being treated unfairly, speak up or offer support.
  • Forgive Others: Let go of grudges. If someone wrongs you, try to forgive them, just as you would want to be forgiven.
  • Pray for Guidance: Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you live according to His teachings. This can provide clarity and strength.
  • Get Involved: Join community groups or church activities that promote peace and justice. Being part of a supportive community can help you stay committed to these values.

Remember, God is always with you, guiding you towards a life of love and justice. Your faith can transform not only your life but also the lives of those around you.

For more prayers and Bible verses, visit PrayersFor or try our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.

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