Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Leadership?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Leadership in the Bible
Discover 16 powerful Bible verses about leadership. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential money & work topic.
Top 10 Verses About Leadership
- 1Exodus 18:21
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:”
KJV - 2Proverbs 11:14
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
KJV - 3Jeremiah 23:1
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.”
KJV - 4Matthew 20:25
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.”
KJV - 5Matthew 20:26
“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;”
KJV - 6Mark 10:42
“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. are: or, think good”
KJV - 7Luke 22:24
“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.”
KJV - 8John 13:12
“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?”
KJV - 9Romans 12:9
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
KJV - 10Galatians 6:9
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
KJV
Subtopics of Leadership
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Leadership? (3 Verses)
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:”
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Leadership? (10 Verses)
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.”
“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;”
“But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. are: or, think good”
“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.”
“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?”
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. have: or, guide”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Leadership
- 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 leadership. 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 leadership 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 leadership 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 leadership needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about leadership 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 leadership, 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 Leadership?
You have studied 13 verses about leadership. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.