Overview
The Bible addresses peace across 68 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Acts and Proverbs. Closely related themes include Meekness, Strife, Nation and Minister (1). Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Abraham, Lot and Mordecai.
Key Bible verses about peace
Old Testament
Genesis
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. brethren: Heb. men brethren
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. That: Heb. If thou shalt
So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
Job
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. thy tabernacle: or, peace is thy tabernacle sin: or, err
Psalms
I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war. for peace: or, a man of peace
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! together: Heb. even together
He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He: Heb. Who maketh thy border peace finest: Heb. fat of wheat
Proverbs
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. sacrifices: or, good cheer
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Isaiah
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. pruninghooks: or, scythes
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
New Testament
Matthew
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Acts
And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
Romans
1 Thessalonians
Hebrews
James
People in the Bible and peace
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying peace for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 13:8, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Psalms, Acts and Proverbs each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus, Abraham and Lot and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Meekness, Strife, Nation and Minister (1).
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about peace?
The Bible addresses peace across 68 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, Acts and Proverbs. Closely related themes include Meekness, Strife, Nation and Minister (1). Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Abraham, Lot and Mordecai.
How many Bible verses are about peace?
The Bible references peace in 68 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention peace?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 13:8: “And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. brethren: Heb. men brethren”
Which people in the Bible are associated with peace?
Jesus, Abraham, Lot, Mordecai and Ahasuerus.
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