Bible Verses About Just War
Ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community
These are the Bible verses most often cited for just war, ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community across 13,389 votes, led by Ecclesiastes 3:8. Each passage links to its verse page or the interactive map; scripture is the King James Version.
Top verses about Just War
Ecclesiastes 3:81,018 votes
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Matthew 26:52954 votes
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matthew 5:9632 votes
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 10:34480 votes
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Matthew 24:6-7421 votes
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Romans 13:4375 votes
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Matthew 5:44333 votes
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Psalms 144:1329 votes
Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
John 18:36325 votes
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Exodus 15:3313 votes
The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.
Deuteronomy 20:1-4294 votes
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Matthew 10:28238 votes
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Romans 13:1-7207 votes
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Luke 6:27-31205 votes
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Romans 14:19200 votes
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Isaiah 2:4197 votes
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.
Psalms 28:4156 votes
Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Exodus 20:13150 votes
Thou shalt not kill.
1 Samuel 15:3140 votes
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Luke 22:36128 votes
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Exodus 17:16117 votes
For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Romans 13:1-14105 votes
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Deuteronomy 20:495 votes
For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
Matthew 10:1693 votes
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
James 4:1-293 votes
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
What does the Bible say about just war?
Readers most often cite Ecclesiastes 3:8 on the subject of just war. Across 13,389 votes, 25 passages are commonly cited for this topic, including Matthew 26:52, Matthew 5:9, Matthew 10:34. This page lists all 25 in ranked order, quoted in the King James Version, with each linked to its cross-references.