What Does The Bible Say About Abusive Relationships? (35 Bible Verses)
Relationships should be built on love, respect, and trust, but sadly, some are marked by abuse and control. What does the Bible say about abusive relationships, and how should we respond? Join us as we explore the biblical principles of love, justice, and accountability that empower us to confront abuse and cultivate healthy, thriving relationships rooted in God’s design for mutual care and respect.
What Does The Bible Say About Abusive Relationships
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is Patient and Kind
“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 14:29 – Whoever is Slow To Anger
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
Proverbs 21:9 – It is Better to Live in a Corner of the Houseroof
“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.”
Proverbs 21:19 – It is Better to Live in a Deserted Land
“It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.”
1 Peter 3:7 – Live with Your Wives in an Understanding Way
“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.”
Colossians 3:19 – Husbands, Love Your Wives
“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”
Galatians 5:22-23 – The Fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Make No Friendship with A Man Given to Anger
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – Fulfilling Marital Rights
“The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Proverbs 15:18 – A Hot-Tempered Man Stirs Up Strife
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
Ephesians 4:29 – Let No Corrupting Talk Come Out of Your Mouths
“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 15:1 – A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let All Bitterness and Wrath and Anger Be Put Away
“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.”
Proverbs 16:32 – Whoever is Slow to Anger is Better Than the Mighty
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Proverbs 19:11 – Good Sense Makes One Slow to Anger
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 27:17 – Iron Sharpens Iron
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
James 1:19-20 – Let Every Person Be Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak
“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.”
Proverbs 29:11 – A Fool Gives Full Vent to His Spirit
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
1 Peter 3:8-9 – Finally, All of You, Have Unity of Mind
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
Matthew 5:38-39 – An Eye for an Eye
“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.”
Proverbs 12:18 – There is One Whose Rash Words are Like Sword Thrusts
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with One Another and, If One Has a Complaint
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Proverbs 22:24 – Make No Friendship with A Man Given to Anger
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,”
James 4:1-2 – What Causes Quarrels and What Causes Fights Among You?
“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.”
Proverbs 25:28 – A Man Without Self-Control is Like a City Broken into and Left Without Walls
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”
Proverbs 13:3 – Whoever Guards His Mouth Preserves His Life
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
James 3:17 – But the Wisdom from Above is First Pure
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Proverbs 10:19 – When Words are Many, Transgression is Not Lacking
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”
James 1:26 – If Anyone Thinks He is Religious and Does Not Bridle His Tongue
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
Matthew 5:23-24 – So if You are Offering Your Gift at the Altar
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
James 4:11 – Do Not Speak Evil Against One Another, Brothers
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”
Proverbs 18:21 – Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Jude 1:22-23 – And Have Mercy on Those who Doubt
“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
Proverbs 17:27 – Whoever Restrains His Words has Knowledge
“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
Colossians 4:6 – Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Proverbs 26:20 – For Lack of Wood the Fire Goes Out
“For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.”
Proverbs 26:21 – As Charcoal to Hot Embers and Wood to Fire
“As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Or Do You Not Know that the Unrighteous Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God?
“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.”
Proverbs 22:10 – Drive Out a Scoffer, and Strife Will Go Out
“Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.”
Proverbs 19:19 – A Man of Great Wrath Will Pay the Penalty
“A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.”
1 Peter 2:23 – When He was Reviled, He did not Revile in Return
“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Proverbs 14:17 – A Man of Quick Temper Acts Foolishly
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
