Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Offense?
12 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Offense in the Bible
Discover 14 powerful Bible verses about offense. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential character & virtues topic.
Top 10 Verses About Offense
- 1Leviticus 19:18
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
KJV - 2Psalms 119:165
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. nothing: Heb. they shall have no stumblingblock”
KJV - 3Proverbs 6:16
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: unto: Heb. of his soul”
KJV - 4Proverbs 18:19
“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
KJV - 5Proverbs 19:11
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. discretion: or, prudence”
KJV - 6Ecclesiastes 7:21
“Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: take: Heb. give not thine heart”
KJV - 7Matthew 18:7
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
KJV - 8Matthew 18:15
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
KJV - 9Luke 17:3
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
KJV - 10Ephesians 4:2
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
KJV
Subtopics of Offense
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Offense? (6 Verses)
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. nothing: Heb. they shall have no stumblingblock”
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: unto: Heb. of his soul”
“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. discretion: or, prudence”
“Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: take: Heb. give not thine heart”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Offense? (6 Verses)
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. confusion: Gr. tumult or unquietness”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Offense
- 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 offense. 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 offense 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 offense 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 offense needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about offense 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 offense, 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 Offense?
You have studied 12 verses about offense. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.