Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Taking Your Own Life?

6 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Taking Your Own Life in the Bible

What does the Bible say about taking your own life? Browse 10 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.

6
Total Verses
4
Old Testament
2
New Testament

Top 6 Verses About Taking Your Own Life

  1. 1
    Genesis 9:5
    And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Exodus 20:13
    Thou shalt not kill.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Job 12:10
    In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind . soul: or, life all: Heb. all flesh of man
    KJV
  4. 4
    Ecclesiastes 7:17
    Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? before: Heb. not in thy time?
    KJV
  5. 5
    Mark 1:1
    The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
    KJV
  6. 6
    James 1:2
    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; temptations: or, trials
    KJV

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Taking Your Own Life? (4 Verses)

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
Thou shalt not kill.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind . soul: or, life all: Heb. all flesh of man
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? before: Heb. not in thy time?

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Taking Your Own Life? (2 Verses)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; temptations: or, trials

How to Study What the Bible Says About Taking Your Own Life

  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 taking your own life. 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 taking your own life 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 taking your own life 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 taking your own life needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about taking your own life 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 taking your own life, 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 Taking Your Own Life?

You have studied 6 verses about taking your own life. 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 taking your own life?
What does the Bible say about taking your own life? Browse 10 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme. The Bible contains 6 key verses about taking your own life spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about taking your own life are there?
There are 6 key Bible verses about taking your own life compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about taking your own life?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about taking your own life is Genesis 9:5 — "And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's b..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about taking your own life?
Taking Your Own Life is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 6 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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