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What the Bible Says About Life

Overview

The Bible addresses life across 40 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in John, Isaiah and Romans. Closely related themes include Regeneration, Immortality, Nicodemus and Psalms. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Nicodemus and Moses.

Key Bible verses about life

Old Testament

Isaiah

Isaiah 38:16

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Isaiah 38:17

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. for peace: or, on my peace came great bitterness thou hast in: Heb. thou hast loved my soul from the pit

Isaiah 38:18

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

Isaiah 38:19

The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Isaiah 38:20

The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

New Testament

John

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. again: or, from above

John 3:4

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. again: or, from above

John 3:8

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:9

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

John 3:10

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

John 3:11

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

John 3:12

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 3:14

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 3:15

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:25

Verily, verily, I say unto you The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John 5:26

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 11:26

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 17:2

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

People in the Bible and life

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying life for yourself

  • Begin with Deuteronomy 32:39, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how John, Isaiah and Romans each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus, Nicodemus and Moses and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Regeneration, Immortality, Nicodemus and Psalms.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about life?

The Bible addresses life across 40 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in John, Isaiah and Romans. Closely related themes include Regeneration, Immortality, Nicodemus and Psalms. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Nicodemus and Moses.

How many Bible verses are about life?

The Bible references life in 40 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention life?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Deuteronomy 32:39: “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with life?

Jesus, Nicodemus and Moses.

Preach & teach

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