Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Wrestling?

11 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Wrestling in the Bible

Explore what the Bible says about wrestling. This collection of 12 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.

11
Total Verses
9
Old Testament
2
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Wrestling

  1. 1
    Genesis 30:8
    And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. great: Heb. wrestlings of God Naphtali: that is, My wrestling: Gr. Nephthalim
    KJV
  2. 2
    Genesis 32:22
    And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Genesis 32:24
    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. breaking: Heb. ascending of the morning
    KJV
  4. 4
    Genesis 32:25
    And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Psalms 144:1
    A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: strength: Heb. rock to war: Heb. to the war, etc
    KJV
  6. 6
    Proverbs 27:17
    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
    KJV
  7. 7
    Isaiah 41:10
    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Isaiah 64:7
    And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. consumed: Heb. melted because: Heb. by the hand
    KJV
  9. 9
    Hosea 12:3
    He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely
    KJV
  10. 10
    Ephesians 6:12
    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly
    KJV

Subtopics of Wrestling

professional wrestling
FIGURATIVE

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Wrestling? (9 Verses)

And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. great: Heb. wrestlings of God Naphtali: that is, My wrestling: Gr. Nephthalim
And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. breaking: Heb. ascending of the morning
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: strength: Heb. rock to war: Heb. to the war, etc
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. consumed: Heb. melted because: Heb. by the hand
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: had: Heb. was a prince, or, behaved himself princely

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Wrestling? (2 Verses)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Wrestling

  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 wrestling. 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 wrestling 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 wrestling 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 wrestling needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about wrestling 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 wrestling, 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 Wrestling?

You have studied 11 verses about wrestling. 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 wrestling?
Explore what the Bible says about wrestling. This collection of 12 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme. The Bible contains 11 key verses about wrestling spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about wrestling are there?
There are 11 key Bible verses about wrestling compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about wrestling?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about wrestling is Genesis 30:8 — "And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. great: Heb. wrestlings ..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about wrestling?
Wrestling is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 11 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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