11 Bible Verses about Strife

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the eyes? Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.

Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

And the Lord's slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,

Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

For members of Chloe's household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you.

for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?

Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?

I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman.

A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel.

A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.

So she said to Abraham, "Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!"

It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren't we the first to suggest bringing back our king?" But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.

the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water belongs to us!" So Isaac named the well Esek because they argued with him about it.

So there were quarrels between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.)

There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife?

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.

Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

For members of Chloe's household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you.

for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?

Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.

Do not lose your courage or become afraid because of the reports that are heard in the land. For a report will come in one year. Another report will follow it in the next. There will be violence in the land with ruler fighting against ruler."

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.

When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.

He will not cry out or shout; he will not publicize himself in the streets.

Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all. But he sternly warned them not to make him known. This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet: read more.
"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I take great delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

He sent messengers on ahead of him. As they went along, they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance for him, but the villagers refused to welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" read more.
But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.

The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

Do not say, "I will pay back evil!" Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.

But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.

Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.

For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel.

And the Lord's slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,

not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.

he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,

But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.

A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.

The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.

You rescue me from a hostile army; you make me a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives.

making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

By David. O Lord, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me!

Then I said, "Lord, pay attention to me. Listen to what my enemies are saying.

"If men fight, and one strikes his neighbor with a stone or with his fist and he does not die, but must remain in bed,

"If men fight and hit a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no serious injury, he will surely be punished in accordance with what the woman's husband demands of him, and he will pay what the court decides.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty.

But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.

he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,

For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

Now an Israelite woman's son whose father was an Egyptian went out among the Israelites, and the Israelite woman's son and an Israelite man had a fight in the camp. The Israelite woman's son misused the Name and cursed, so they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother's name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)

For members of Chloe's household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you.

A dispute also started among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked the king, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan -- and not only him but all of David's men as well?" All the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, "Because the king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten at the king's expense? Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use?" The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren't we the first to suggest bringing back our king?" But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the eyes? Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.

for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?

Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases. Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?

idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

For members of Chloe's household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, "I am with Paul," or "I am with Apollos," or "I am with Cephas," or "I am with Christ."

Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?

But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife?

Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person, lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.

Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.

However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.

Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease.

A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease.

A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.

idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions,

the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water belongs to us!" So Isaac named the well Esek because they argued with him about it.

Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. "What did I do wrong?" he demanded of Laban. "What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit?

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. read more.
For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.

Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.

Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked the king, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan -- and not only him but all of David's men as well?" All the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, "Because the king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten at the king's expense? Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use?" The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren't we the first to suggest bringing back our king?" But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.

So there were quarrels between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.)

but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,

the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water belongs to us!" So Isaac named the well Esek because they argued with him about it. His servants dug another well, but they quarreled over it too, so Isaac named it Sitnah. Then he moved away from there and dug another well. They did not quarrel over it, so Isaac named it Rehoboth, saying, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we will prosper in the land."

Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven.

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.

When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" read more.
When the argument became so great the commanding officer feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, he ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,

For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city.

But the land could not support them while they were living side by side. Because their possessions were so great, they were not able to live alongside one another. So there were quarrels between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.)

The Ephraimites assembled and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go and fight with the Ammonites without asking us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!" Jephthah said to them, "My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites. I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power. When I saw that you were not going to help, I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why have you come up to fight with me today?" read more.
Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and they fought with Ephraim. The men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because the Ephraimites insulted them, saying, "You Gileadites are refugees in Ephraim, living within Ephraim's and Manasseh's territory." The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan River opposite Ephraim. Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," then they said to him, "Say 'Shibboleth!'" If he said, "Sibboleth" (and could not pronounce the word correctly), they grabbed him and executed him right there at the fords of the Jordan. On that day forty-two thousand Ephraimites fell dead.

When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words.

When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement.

Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?

But Abraham lodged a complaint against Abimelech concerning a well that Abimelech's servants had seized.

Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. "What did I do wrong?" he demanded of Laban. "What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit?

When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement.

Gilead's wife also gave him sons. When his wife's sons grew up, they made Jephthah leave and said to him, "You are not going to inherit any of our father's wealth, because you are another woman's son."

But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife?