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What the Bible Says About Enemy

Overview

The Bible addresses enemy across 57 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Luke and Matthew. Closely related themes include Malice, Good for Evil, Poor and Adoption. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David.

Key Bible verses about enemy

Old Testament

Psalms

Psalms 35:1

A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Psalms 35:2

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Psalms 35:3

Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Psalms 35:4

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

Psalms 35:5

Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

Psalms 35:6

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. dark: Heb. darkness and slipperiness

Psalms 35:7

For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

Psalms 35:8

Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. at: Heb. which he knoweth not of

Psalms 35:9

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psalms 35:10

All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Psalms 35:11

False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. False: Heb. Witnesses of wrong they: Heb. they asked me

Psalms 35:12

They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. spoiling: Heb. depriving

Psalms 35:13

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. humbled: or, afflicted

Psalms 35:14

I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. behaved myself: Heb. walked as though: Heb. as a friend, as a brother to me

Psalms 35:15

But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: adversity: Heb. halting

Psalms 35:16

With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Psalms 35:17

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. darling: Heb. only one

Psalms 35:18

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. much: Heb. strong

Psalms 35:19

Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. wrongfully: Heb. falsely

Psalms 35:20

For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

Psalms 35:21

Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

Psalms 35:22

This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

Psalms 35:23

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Psalms 35:24

Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Psalms 35:25

Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. Ah: Heb. Ah, ah, our soul

Psalms 35:26

Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

Psalms 35:27

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. righteous: Heb. righteousness

Psalms 35:28

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalms 109:2

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. of the deceitful: Heb. of deceit are opened: Heb. have opened themselves

Psalms 109:3

They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

Psalms 109:4

For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

Psalms 109:5

And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Psalms 129:1

A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many: or, Much

Psalms 129:2

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. Many: or, Much

Psalms 129:3

The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

New Testament

Luke

Luke 6:27

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Luke 6:28

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:29

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Luke 6:30

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

Luke 6:31

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Luke 6:32

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

Luke 6:33

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

Luke 6:34

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

Luke 6:35

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Luke 6:36

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

People in the Bible and enemy

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying enemy for yourself

  • Begin with Job 31:29, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Psalms, Luke and Matthew each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of David and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Malice, Good for Evil, Poor and Adoption.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about enemy?

The Bible addresses enemy across 57 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Luke and Matthew. Closely related themes include Malice, Good for Evil, Poor and Adoption. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David.

How many Bible verses are about enemy?

The Bible references enemy in 57 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention enemy?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Job 31:29: “If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:”

Which people in the Bible are associated with enemy?

David.

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