Segregation is a practice or policy involving discrimination or isolation on the grounds of race, socio-economic status, or other distinguishing characteristics in society. Even though the term isn’t illustrated directly in the Bible, there are significant lessons about unity, equality, and acceptance that provide a clear stance on this issue.
What the bible teaches about Equality
The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God. This fundamental truth underscores the inherent value and worth of each individual, regardless of their racial, social, or economic background. The Bible emphasizes that no one is superior or inferior. God’s love and the offer of salvation extend to people of all races, making the practice of segregation contrary to the core values ingrained in the Bible.
Who the Bible includes in God’s Family
The Bible illustrates the inclusivity of God’s family. Belief in Jesus Christ is the only requirement for membership into this family. God doesn’t discriminate between Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female – all are one in Christ Jesus. This suggests that God doesn’t endorse segregation or exclusion based on differences. Instead, His divine plan encompasses unity and integration of diverse members into one body.
Where the Bible Stands on Love and Acceptance
The Bible ardently places importance on love, acceptance, and fairness. It encourages followers to love their neighbors as themselves, accepting and valuing them, despite their distinct backgrounds or abilities. The practice of segregation, which involves rejection and discrimination, is antithetical to these biblical teachings. The commandment to love and accept all individuals equally, irrespective of their race or social classification, effectively negates any form of segregation.
Why Segregation Contradicts Biblical Teachings
Segregation creates barriers and fosters divisions among people, contradicting the Biblical message of unity and brotherhood. The Bible celebrates the diversity of people within a unified body of believers. It elucidates God’s design for humanity, where every individual, irrespective of their racial, ethnic, or social differences, plays a central role in the totality of God’s plan. The segregation of people based on perceived differences goes against the intention of unity as propagated by the Bible.
When the Bible Advocates for Justice
The Bible champions calls for justice and equality. It stresses that God does not show favoritism but judges each person’s work impartially. To support segregation is to deny the biblical commands of justice, equality, and impartiality. Reciprocally, promoting equality and countering segregation are ways of living out these biblical teachings. The actions that underscore justice and equality are praised, indicating that such actions fulfill God’s heart for all humanity.
Below is our full list of bible verses on segregation (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Segregation
Matthew 12:25
“25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”
Related Themes: Apologizing Hate Strife
1 Corinthians 1:10
“10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Related Themes: Teamwork Division Working Together Cliques Community
Nehemiah 13:23-30
“23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;”
Related Themes: Divorce
Jude 1:19
“19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”
Related Themes: Discrimination Division
Galatians 3:28
“28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Related Themes: Equality Strangers Discrimination Prejudice Culture
Acts 17:26
“26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Equality Boundaries
Galatians 2:14-16
“14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Romans 16:17
“17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
Related Themes: Holiness Division Narcissism Judging Others Church
John 17:21
“21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Romans 10:12-13
“12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Related Themes: Social Justice
Colossians 3:11
“11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
Related Themes: Strangers Diversity Prejudice Social Justice Partiality
Revelation 7:9
“9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
Romans 2:11
“11 For there is no respect of persons with God.”
Related Themes: Equality Discrimination Partiality Favoritism Fairness
Titus 3:10-11
“10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
Related Themes: Gossip Negativity Excommunication Fighting Discipline
Matthew 28:19
“19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Related Themes: Omnipresence Holy Spirit Baptism Education Omnipotence
Exodus 22:21
“21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Related Themes: Strangers Trespassing Hospitality
1 John 2:11
“11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
Related Themes: Discrimination
1 Corinthians 12:13
“13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Related Themes: Baptism Omnipresence Holy Spirit Glorification Water
Romans 1:16
“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence Lust Fidelity Loyalty Gospel
Mark 12:31
“31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Related Themes: Love Equality Bullying Gossip Discrimination
John 7:24
“24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
Related Themes: Judging Others Discernment Criticism Resolving Conflict Modesty
1 Timothy 5:21
“21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”
Related Themes: Partiality Angels Equality Voting
Genesis 1:26-27
“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Related Themes: Earth Omnipotence Earth Greatness Creativity
Proverbs 24:23
“23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.”
Related Themes: Judging Others Partiality
Colossians 3:25
“25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
Related Themes: Justice Punishment Respect Revenge Partiality
Proverbs 10:3
“3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.”
Related Themes: Homelessness
Deuteronomy 32:7-8
“7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.”
Acts 10:34-36
“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”
Related Themes: Strangers Favoritism Equality Discrimination Respect
Galatians 5:20
“20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,”
Related Themes: Dating Indulgence Bitterness Strife Magic
Matthew 10:5-6
“5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
