The Bible clearly outlines the detrimental impact of bribery on individuals and society at large, emphasizing the danger it poses to moral integrity, rule of law, and justice. The Bible provides wise guidance on how bribes can distort the innocuous and the guilty, making us reassess the moral implications of such actions.
What the Bible Says About Bribery
The Bible refers to bribery in numerous scriptures, uniformly portraying it in a negative manner. Bribery is identified as an unethical practice that distorts justice and truth. It warns that accepting or offering a bribe is contrary to righteousness, suggesting that it distorts perspective and leads people astray from adhering to the truth. Leaders, judges, and anyone else in a position of influence are specifically highlighted, informed of the danger that accepting gifts as bribery can create a distorted vision of fairness.
Why Bribery is Viewed Negatively
Bribery is seen as morally wrong in the Bible because it can lead to corruption, as well as a skewed sense of fairness, justice, and integrity. The Bible conveys that bribery undermines societal and personal attributes by promoting injustice and favoritism, discouraging honesty and righteousness. It undermines the fundamental principle of ‘love thy neighbor’ by encouraging a self-serving mentality that undermines the common good. The Bible underlines that those who partake in bribery fail in their duty to uphold justice and truth.
Who is Affected by Bribery
Bribery overflows with serious implications for everyone involved. It impacts the individual taking the bribe, the person offering, and also the wider community. The Bible suggests that accepting bribes taints the heart, leading to a corrupted perspective that prevents individuals from thinking and acting in accordance with moral values. It also portrays those who offer bribes as manipulative and trying to evade justice. Moreover, the broader community suffers from the infringement of justice, fairness, and truth, which can breed mistrust and a lack of social cohesion.
Where Bribery Can Exist
While there is no specific physical location mentioned, bribery, according to the Bible, is likely to occur whenever power, judgement, or influence is present. Leaders, judges, or any individuals in positions of authority are particularly vulnerable. Bribery seeks to take advantage of positions of power to distort justice and promote personal gain. The Bible cautions against this misuse of power and offers wisdom to discourage such behavior.
When to Resist Bribery
The Bible indicates that resistance against bribery should be constant. There is never a morally appropriate time or place for one to partake in bribes. The scriptures consistently depict bribery as negative, with no redeeming factors, suggesting a staunch renouncement of the practice. This underscores the need to consistently uphold integrity, honesty, and fairness in every aspect of life, refusing any and all attempts at being corrupted by bribery.
Below is the full list of bible verses on bribery (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 Bribery
Exodus 23:8
“8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:27
“27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.”
Proverbs 17:23
“23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.”
Related Themes: Justice
Proverbs 17:8
“8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.”
Ecclesiastes 7:7
“7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.”
Related Themes: Politics
Amos 5:12
“12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.”
Deuteronomy 16:19
“19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.”
Related Themes: Justice Partiality
Proverbs 21:14
“14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.”
Psalm 26:10
“10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.”
Isaiah 5:23
“23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!”
Related Themes: Justice
Isaiah 1:23
“23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.”
Related Themes: Stealing
Proverbs 10:2
“2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.”
Related Themes: Money Stealing Finances Gossip Telling The Truth
Job 15:34
“34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.”
Related Themes: Hypocrisy
1 Timothy 6:10
“10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Matthew 28:12-15
“12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
Proverbs 28:21
“21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.”
Related Themes: Partiality
1 Samuel 8:3
“3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”
Related Themes: Indulgence Justice
Judges 16:5
“5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.”
Micah 7:3
“3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.”
Isaiah 33:15
“15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;”
Related Themes: Righteousness Money
Matthew 27:3-9
“3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;”
Related Themes: Repentance
Ezekiel 22:12
“12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.”
Proverbs 29:4
“4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.”
Ezekiel 13:19
“19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?”
Related Themes: Lying
Acts 24:26
“26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.”
Acts 8:20-23
“20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”
Related Themes: Money Finances Excommunication
James 2:7
“7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”
1 Kings 15:19
“19 There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”
Related Themes: Gold
Acts 8:20-24
“20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.”
Related Themes: Money Finances Excommunication
Matthew 26:15
“15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”
