What Does the Bible Say About Strife?

“And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.”

“And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.”

“And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. brethren: Heb. men brethren”

“And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.”

“And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. Esek: that is, Contention”

“And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?”

“So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.”

“And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?”

“And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: another: or, his neighbour”

“If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.”

“And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian , went out among the children of Israel : and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;”

“And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)”

“How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?”

“And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.”

“And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. gathered: Heb. were called”

“And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?”

“And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?”

“And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. despise: Heb. set us at light”

“Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.”

“Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.”

“Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”

“A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.”

“Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.”

“Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.”

“By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”

“Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.”

“A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.”

“He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;”

“Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord . soweth: Heb. casteth forth”

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: unto: Heb. of his soul”

“A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A proud: Heb. Haughty eyes”

“An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,”

“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.”

“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. soweth: Heb. sendeth forth”

“Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. sacrifices: or, good cheer”

“The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”

“He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.”

“A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.”

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”

“A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.”

“It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.”

“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”

“It is better to dwell in the wilderness , than with a contentious and an angry woman. in: Heb. in the land of the desert”

“Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions ? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?”

“They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.”

“Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.”

“It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.”

“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. meddleth: or, is enraged”

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Where no: Heb. Without wood talebearer: or, whisperer ceaseth: Heb. is silent”

“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”

“A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.”

“He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.”

“An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”

“Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.”

“Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. they that strive: Heb. the men of thy strife”

“Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. them that: Heb. the men of thy contention they: Heb. the men of thy war”

“He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.”

“Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. ye shall: or, ye fast not as this day”

“Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.”

“Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.”

“Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. wrong: or, wrested”

“Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.”

“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

“And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.”

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

“For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

“And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”

“But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;”

“And charged them that they should not make him known:”

“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,”

“Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.”

“He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.”

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”

“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.”

“But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

“And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”

“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

“But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.”

“And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.”

“And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.”

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”

“But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.”

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

“But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.”

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”

“For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.”

“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

“When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.”

“I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.”

“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.”

“There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.”

“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”

“But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.”

“And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other : and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;”