Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Sleep?
21 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Sleep in the Bible
What does the Bible say about sleep? Browse 11 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Sleep
- 1Job 14:12
“So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
KJV - 2
- 3Psalms 4:8
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
KJV - 4
- 5Psalms 127:2
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
KJV - 6Proverbs 3:24
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
KJV - 7
- 8
- 9Proverbs 20:13
“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.”
KJV - 10Ecclesiastes 5:12
“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”
KJV
Subtopics of Sleep
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Sleep? (10 Verses)
“So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.”
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.”
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.”
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.”
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?”
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:”
“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.”
“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Sleep? (11 Verses)
“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.”
“He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.”
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
“And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”
“But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.”
“And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.”
“These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”
“Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.”
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Sleep
- 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 sleep. 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 sleep 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 sleep 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 sleep needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about sleep 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 sleep, 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 Sleep?
You have studied 21 verses about sleep. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.
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Topics Included
This page consolidates Bible verses from 2 related topics: