Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Leisure?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Leisure in the Bible
Discover 14 powerful Bible verses about leisure. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential life circumstances topic.
Top 10 Verses About Leisure
- 1Genesis 2:2
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
KJV - 2Exodus 20:10
“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:”
KJV - 3Leviticus 23:3
“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.”
KJV - 4Ecclesiastes 3:13
“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
KJV - 5Ecclesiastes 9:9
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Live: Heb. See, or, Enjoy life”
KJV - 6Zechariah 8:5
“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.”
KJV - 7Matthew 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
KJV - 8Mark 6:31
“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
KJV - 9John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
KJV - 10
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Leisure? (6 Verses)
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:”
“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.”
“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Live: Heb. See, or, Enjoy life”
“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Leisure? (7 Verses)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Leisure
- 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 leisure. 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 leisure 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 leisure 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 leisure needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about leisure 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 leisure, 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 Leisure?
You have studied 13 verses about leisure. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.