Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Waste?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Waste in the Bible
What does the Bible say about waste? Browse 13 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Waste
- 1Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. moveth: Heb. creepeth”
KJV - 2Leviticus 23:22
“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.”
KJV - 3Numbers 35:33
“So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. the land cannot: Heb. there can be no expiation for the land”
KJV - 4Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”
KJV - 5Deuteronomy 24:19
“When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.”
KJV - 6
- 7Proverbs 12:27
“The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.”
KJV - 8Proverbs 13:23
“Much food is in the tillage of the poor : but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.”
KJV - 9
- 10Isaiah 54:16
“Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Waste? (11 Verses)
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. moveth: Heb. creepeth”
“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.”
“So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. the land cannot: Heb. there can be no expiation for the land”
“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”
“When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.”
“For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.”
“The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.”
“Much food is in the tillage of the poor : but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.”
“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”
“Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.”
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Waste? (2 Verses)
“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. spikenard: or, pure nard, or, liquid nard”
“When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Waste
- 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 waste. 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 waste 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 waste 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 waste needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about waste 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 waste, 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 Waste?
You have studied 13 verses about waste. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.