Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Just War?
12 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Just War in the Bible
What does the Bible say about just war? Browse 12 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Just War
- 1
- 2Deuteronomy 20:1
“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.”
KJV - 3Psalms 144:1
“A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: strength: Heb. rock to war: Heb. to the war, etc”
KJV - 4
- 5
- 6Matthew 5:44
“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;”
KJV - 7Matthew 10:28
“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.”
KJV - 8Matthew 10:34
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
KJV - 9Matthew 24:6
“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.”
KJV - 10Matthew 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
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Just War? (4 Verses)
“The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.”
“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.”
“A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: strength: Heb. rock to war: Heb. to the war, etc”
“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Just War? (8 Verses)
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
“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;”
“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.”
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Just War
- 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 just war. 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 just war 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 just war 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 just war needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about just war 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 just war, 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 Just War?
You have studied 12 verses about just war. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.