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What the Bible Says About Doubting

Overview

The Bible addresses doubting across 105 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Mark and Job. Closely related themes include Afflictions and Adversities, Miracles of Christ, the, Murmuring and Faith. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Elijah, Sarah and Moses.

Key Bible verses about doubting

Old Testament

Exodus

Exodus 5:22

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Exodus 5:23

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. neither: Heb. delivering thou hast not delivered

Exodus 14:10

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

Exodus 14:11

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Exodus 14:12

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

1 Kings

1 Kings 18:7

And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

1 Kings 18:8

And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

1 Kings 18:9

And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

1 Kings 18:10

As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

1 Kings 18:11

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

1 Kings 18:12

And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.

1 Kings 18:13

Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

1 Kings 18:14

And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

1 Kings 19:13

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

1 Kings 19:14

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

1 Kings 19:15

And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

1 Kings 19:16

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. Elisha: Gr. Eliseus

1 Kings 19:17

And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

1 Kings 19:18

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. I have: or, I will leave

Job

Job 4:3

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Job 4:4

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

Job 4:5

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

Job 4:6

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Job 9:16

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

Job 9:17

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

Job 9:18

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

Job 9:19

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

Job 9:20

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 9:21

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Job 9:22

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

Job 9:23

If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

Job 23:15

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

Job 23:17

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

Job 30:20

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

Job 30:21

Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. become: Heb. turned to be cruel thy: Heb. the strength of thy hand

Psalms

Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. cast: Heb. bowed praise: or, give thanks for the: or, his presence is salvation

Psalms 42:6

O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. the hill: or, the little hill

Psalms 73:13

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

Psalms 73:14

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. chastened: Heb. my chastisement was

Psalms 73:15

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

Psalms 73:16

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; too: Heb. labour in mine eyes

Psalms 73:17

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Psalms 77:7

Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

Psalms 77:8

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? for evermore: Heb. to generation and generation?

Psalms 77:9

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

New Testament

Matthew

Matthew 8:23

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Matthew 8:24

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

Matthew 8:25

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Matthew 8:26

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:27

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Matthew 11:2

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

Matthew 11:3

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Matthew 14:29

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Matthew 14:30

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. boisterous: or, strong

Matthew 14:31

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Matthew 17:14

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

Matthew 17:15

Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

Matthew 17:16

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Matthew 17:17

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Matthew 17:18

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 17:19

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 17:21

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mark

Mark 9:14

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

Mark 9:15

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

Mark 9:16

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? with them: or, among yourselves

Mark 9:17

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Mark 9:18

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. teareth: or, dasheth him

Mark 9:19

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

Mark 9:20

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

Mark 9:21

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

Mark 9:22

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Mark 9:23

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:24

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 9:25

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Mark 9:26

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

Mark 9:27

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

Mark 9:28

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Mark 9:29

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 16:10

And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mark 16:11

And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

People in the Bible and doubting

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying doubting for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 12:12, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Matthew, Mark and Job each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus, Elijah and Sarah and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Afflictions and Adversities, Miracles of Christ, the, Murmuring and Faith.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about doubting?

The Bible addresses doubting across 105 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Mark and Job. Closely related themes include Afflictions and Adversities, Miracles of Christ, the, Murmuring and Faith. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Elijah, Sarah and Moses.

How many Bible verses are about doubting?

The Bible references doubting in 105 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention doubting?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 12:12: “Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with doubting?

Jesus, Elijah, Sarah, Moses and Samuel.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on doubting.

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