Abuse is a traumatic experience that leaves individuals feeling broken, used, and violated. However, the Bible offers wisdom, guidance, and comfort to victims of abuse, shedding light on God’s views on the maltreatment of others and His solidarity and support for the oppressed.
What Does the Bible Say About Abuse?
The Bible strictly condemns abuse in all its forms — physical, emotional, sexual, or spiritual. The basis of this position is found in the Bible’s overarching themes of love, respect, and the invaluable worth of every person. Notably, the Bible underscores the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself, which inherently negates any form of abuse. While it refrains from explicit references to abuse as the term is understood today, scriptures depict several instances where God intervenes on behalf of the oppressed, showcasing His zero-tolerance policy towards undue mistreatment.
Why God Stands Against Abuse
God is a champion of justice, and His heart beats in synchrony with the marginalized and abused. The Bible depicts Him as the protector of the innocent, the vulnerable, and those who cannot defend themselves. His laws strictly prohibit oppression, and He reprimands those who break these laws. This demonstrates His unequivocal stance against all forms of abuse. Additionally, humans are created in God’s image, making any form of oppression a direct affront to His likeness.
Who Are the Victims in the Bible?
The Bible provides several examples of individuals who’ve experienced abuse and oppression. From Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own brothers, to David who was hounded and threatened by King Saul, to women like Tamar who were victims of sexual abuse, these stories illustrate the Bible’s understanding of the reality of abuse. However, despite their painful circumstances, these individuals often experienced God’s deliverance and healing, heralding hope for victims today.
When God Intervenes for the Abused
In the Bible, God demonstrates His righteous anger against abusers and His resolve to protect and rescue victims of abuse. His intervention in cases of abuse is clear in narratives like that of Hagar, who was mistreated by Sarah. When Hagar fled, God intervened, showing compassion and giving her hope. Similarly, when the Israelites were oppressed as slaves in Egypt, God heard their cries and delivered them through Moses. These instances serve as powerful narratives of divine intervention and redemption for victims of abuse.
Where Victims Can Find Hope in the Bible
Victims of abuse can find solace in biblical promises of healing, comfort, and divine justice. Stories of deliverance from oppression in the Bible are intended to inspire hope and faith in those suffering. The Bible depicts God as a ‘refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble’. Through these passages, victims can acquire the assurance of God’s omnipresent comfort and ever-present assistance during their trials, reaffirming God’s unending compassion and empathy for those who suffer.
Below is the full list of bible verses on abuse (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Abuse
Ephesians 6:4
“4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Related Themes: Children Education Respecting Your Parents Attitude Morality
Galatians 5:19-21
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Bitterness Adultery
Colossians 3:19
“19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Marriage
Colossians 3:21
“21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
Related Themes: Children Respecting Your Parents Education Parents
1 Corinthians 7:15
“15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”
Related Themes: Divorce Adultery Separation Unfaithfulness
Proverbs 22:10
“10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Related Themes: Holy Spirit Lust Health Holiness Omnipresence
Psalm 11:5
“5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”
Proverbs 10:11
“11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.”
Related Themes: Violence
Psalm 147:3
“3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Healing Greatness Health
Proverbs 15:1
“1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Related Themes: Arguing Criticism Bitterness Criticism Gossip
1 Peter 3:7
“7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Related Themes: Dating Marriage Respecting Your Parents Benevolence Respect
James 1:19-20
“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Related Themes: Criticism Bitterness Frustration Patience Frustration
2 Timothy 3:1-8
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”
Related Themes: Manipulation Gossip Boasting Narcissism Pride
Psalm 9:9
“9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Depression Greatness Oppression Anxiety And Depression
Ephesians 4:31
“31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
Related Themes: Bitterness Letting Go Gossip Criticism
James 3:10
“10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
Related Themes: Reputation Cussing Cursing Profanity
James 1:26
“26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
Related Themes: Gossip Bitterness Hypocrisy Judging Others Cursing
James 5:16
“16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Related Themes: Criticism Forgiveness Healing Prayer Lust
Matthew 18:15-17
“15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Criticism Resolving Conflict Gossip
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”
Ephesians 4:29
“29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Related Themes: Gossip Criticism Complaining Judging Others Cursing
Matthew 19:8
“8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
Related Themes: Divorce
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
Related Themes: Criticism Friendship Dating Learning Education
Proverbs 19:19
“19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.”
Related Themes: Boundaries Anger
1 John 1:9
“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Related Themes: Repentance Forgiveness Bitterness Lust Attitude
Psalm 103:6
“6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”
Related Themes: Justice Poverty Oppression
Zephaniah 1:9
“9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.”
Related Themes: Violence
Psalm 72:14
“14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.”
Related Themes: Violence
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Abomination
