Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Casting Lots?
15 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Casting Lots in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about casting lots. This collection of 17 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Casting Lots
- 1Leviticus 16:8
“And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. scapegoat: Heb. Azazel”
KJV - 2Numbers 26:55
“Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.”
KJV - 3Joshua 18:10
“And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.”
KJV - 4Nehemiah 10:34
“And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:”
KJV - 5Esther 3:7
“In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.”
KJV - 6
- 7
- 8
- 9Jonah 1:7
“And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.”
KJV - 10Matthew 27:35
“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Casting Lots? (9 Verses)
“And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. scapegoat: Heb. Azazel”
“Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.”
“And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.”
“And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:”
“In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.”
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”
“The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.”
“And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Casting Lots? (6 Verses)
“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”
“And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.”
“According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
“They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.”
“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Casting Lots
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about casting lots. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about casting lots and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about casting lots is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on casting lots needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about casting lots with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about casting lots, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Casting Lots?
You have studied 15 verses about casting lots. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.