Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About How To Treat Your Enemies?
15 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding How To Treat Your Enemies in the Bible
Discover 17 powerful Bible verses about how to treat your enemies. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic.
Top 10 Verses About How To Treat Your Enemies
- 1Deuteronomy 28:47
“Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;”
KJV - 2Psalms 46:1
“To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. for: or, of”
KJV - 3Proverbs 24:17
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:”
KJV - 4Proverbs 25:26
“A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.”
KJV - 5
- 6Matthew 26:52
“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.”
KJV - 7
- 8Luke 10:27
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
KJV - 9John 14:26
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
KJV - 10John 18:1
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About How To Treat Your Enemies? (4 Verses)
“Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;”
“To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. for: or, of”
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:”
“A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About How To Treat Your Enemies? (11 Verses)
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:”
“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.”
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,”
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.”
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
“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.”
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About How To Treat Your Enemies
- 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 how to treat your enemies. 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 how to treat your enemies 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 how to treat your enemies 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 how to treat your enemies needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about how to treat your enemies 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 how to treat your enemies, 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 How To Treat Your Enemies?
You have studied 15 verses about how to treat your enemies. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.