Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Secular Music?

10 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Secular Music in the Bible

Discover 13 powerful Bible verses about secular music. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential prayer & worship topic.

10
Total Verses
2
Old Testament
8
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Secular Music

  1. 1
    Proverbs 17:4
    A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Ecclesiastes 7:5
    It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Luke 21:34
    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
    KJV
  4. 4
    John 12:43
    For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Romans 12:1
    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Romans 14:1
    Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts
    KJV
  7. 7
    Ephesians 5:1
    Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
    KJV
  8. 8
    Philippians 4:8
    Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. honest: or, venerable
    KJV
  9. 9
    Colossians 3:16
    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
    KJV
  10. 10
    James 4:4
    Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
    KJV

Subtopics of Secular Music

listening to secular music

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Secular Music? (2 Verses)

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Secular Music? (8 Verses)

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. honest: or, venerable
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Secular Music

  1. 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. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about secular music. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 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. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about secular music 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 secular music 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 secular music needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about secular music 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 secular music, 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 Secular Music?

You have studied 10 verses about secular music. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about secular music?
Discover 13 powerful Bible verses about secular music. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential prayer & worship topic. The Bible contains 10 key verses about secular music spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about secular music are there?
There are 10 key Bible verses about secular music compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about secular music?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about secular music is Proverbs 17:4 — "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue."
Where in the Bible does it talk about secular music?
Secular Music is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 10 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Secular Music