Bible Verses About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies, we sometimes feel very angry at people who hurt us. When someone wrongs us deeply, we might even have dark thoughts about revenge. These feelings are real and the Bible does not ignore them. God’s Word speaks honestly about our struggle with enemies.
The Bible shows us that many people felt this way throughout history. King David wrote prayers asking God to punish his enemies. But Scripture also teaches us a better way to handle these feelings. Instead of seeking revenge, we are called to forgive and let God handle justice.
Bible Verses About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies
1. Psalm 35:1-3 – David’s Plea for Vindication
“Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.”
2. Psalm 69:22-23 – A Desire for Justice
“Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.”
3. Psalm 109:6-7 – David’s Importunity for Retribution
“Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.”
4. Matthew 5:44 – Jesus’ Command to Love Our Enemies
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
5. Romans 12:19 – Leaving Room for God’s Justice
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
6. Proverbs 24:17-18 – Don’t Rejoice in Your Enemy’s Downfall
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”
7. Luke 6:27-28 – Love and Bless Your Enemies
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
8. Exodus 23:4-5 – Helping Your Enemy
“If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.”
9. Proverbs 25:21-22 – Giving to Your Enemy
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”
10. Romans 12:20 – Overcoming Evil with Good
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
11. Psalm 3:7 – Calling on God Against Enemies
“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.”
12. Psalm 7:9 – God’s Judgment on the Wicked
“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.”
13. Matthew 5:39 – Turn the Other Cheek
“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.”
14. James 1:19-20 – Slow to Anger, Quick to Listen
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
15. Matthew 18:21-22 – Forgiveness Over Revenge
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
16. Psalm 18:47-48 – God’s Protection Against Enemies
“It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.”
17. Romans 12:14 – Blessing Your Persecutors
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
18. Psalm 109:4-5 – A Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
“For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”
19. 1 Samuel 24:12 – Entrusting Vengeance to God
“The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.”
20. Psalm 58:10-11 – Desire for Justice
“The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.”
21. 2 Timothy 4:14 – Calling for God’s Justice
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works.”
22. Psalm 35:8 – Desiring Justice for the Wicked
“Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.”
23. Matthew 5:38-39 – Turning the Other Cheek
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 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.”
24. Luke 23:34 – Jesus’ Example of Forgiveness
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
25. Romans 12:21 – Overcoming Evil with Good
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
26. Psalm 37:1-2 – Trusting God with Justice
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
27. 1 Peter 3:9 – Responding to Evil with Blessing
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
28. Ephesians 4:26-27 – Anger Without Sin
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”
29. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 – Responding to Persecution
“And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”
30. Proverbs 24:29 – Seeking Justice, Not Revenge
“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”
31. Psalm 54:5 – Calling on God for Retribution
“He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.”
32. Psalm 139:19-22 – David’s Hatred of God’s Enemies
“Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”
33. Psalm 137:8-9 – A Cry for Vengeance
“O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.”
34. Jeremiah 11:20 – Trusting God to Avenge
“But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.”
35. Psalm 143:12 – Prayer for Enemy’s Destruction
“And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.”
36. Nahum 1:2 – God’s Vengeance on His Enemies
“God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”
37. Colossians 3:8 – Putting Away Wrath
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
38. Proverbs 20:22 – Wait for the Lord’s Salvation
“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.”
39. Deuteronomy 32:35 – Vengeance Belongs to God
“To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
40. Hebrews 10:30 – God Will Judge His People
“For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”
Related post: 40 Bible Verses About the Meaning of the Pink Color
Conclusion
Bible Verses About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies that we feel angry when people hurt us badly. It’s normal to want revenge against those who wrong us. But God calls us to something higher than our natural feelings. He asks us to forgive our enemies and leave justice in His hands.
Choosing forgiveness over revenge is not easy, but it brings peace to our hearts. When we let go of hatred, we find freedom from bitterness. God promises to deal with our enemies in His perfect way. Trust Him with your pain and let His love change your heart.
FAQ’S
What does the Bible say about wanting to kill your enemies?
The Bible acknowledges these feelings but commands us to love our enemies and leave vengeance to God alone.
How should Christians deal with enemies according to the Bible?
Christians should pray for their enemies, bless those who curse them, and overcome evil with good instead of seeking revenge.
Does God allow us to take revenge on our enemies?
No, God clearly states that vengeance belongs to Him and we should not avenge ourselves but trust His justice.
What did Jesus teach about treating enemies?
Jesus taught us to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, and pray for those who persecute us.
Why does the Bible tell us to forgive our enemies?
Forgiveness frees us from bitterness and reflects God’s mercy, while He promises to handle justice in His perfect timing.
