Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Gambling?

11 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Gambling in the Bible

What does the Bible say about gambling? Browse 15 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.

11
Total Verses
6
Old Testament
5
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Gambling

  1. 1
    Exodus 20:17
    Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Proverbs 13:11
    Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. by labour: Heb. with the hand
    KJV
  3. 3
    Proverbs 15:27
    He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Proverbs 16:33
    The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Proverbs 28:22
    He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. hasteth: or, hath and evil eye hasteth to be rich
    KJV
  6. 6
    Ecclesiastes 5:10
    He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
    KJV
  7. 7
    Matthew 6:24
    No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Luke 12:15
    And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
    KJV
  9. 9
    Luke 16:13
    No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
    KJV
  10. 10
    Ephesians 4:28
    Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth . to give: or, to distribute
    KJV

Subtopics of Gambling

gambling addictions
is gambling a sin
is gambling a sin gambling

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Gambling? (6 Verses)

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. by labour: Heb. with the hand
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. hasteth: or, hath and evil eye hasteth to be rich
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Gambling? (5 Verses)

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth . to give: or, to distribute
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Gambling

  1. 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. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about gambling. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 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. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about gambling 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 gambling 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 gambling needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about gambling 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 gambling, 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 Gambling?

You have studied 11 verses about gambling. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about gambling?
What does the Bible say about gambling? Browse 15 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme. The Bible contains 11 key verses about gambling spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about gambling are there?
There are 11 key Bible verses about gambling compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about gambling?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about gambling is Exodus 20:17 — "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his as..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about gambling?
Gambling is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 11 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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