Conflict is part of life – in families, friendships, communities. The Bible does not hide this. It tells of conflicts and gives surprisingly practical advice on how to resolve them. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about conflict, for yourself or as inspiration for a clarifying conversation.
Avoiding and de-escalating conflict
Wisdom for heated moments.
-
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1RelationshipsWords
-
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient person puts an end to quarreling.
Proverbs 15:18Patience
-
Whoever stirs up conflict is like one who breaks open the floodgates of water. Stop quarreling before you get entangled in it.
Proverbs 17:14
-
It is an honor for a man to keep back from quarreling, but those who love to quarrel are always fools.
Proverbs 20:3
-
When there is no more wood, the fire goes out; and when the slanderer is gone, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 26:20Slander
-
Therefore, my dear brothers, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. For the anger of man does not accomplish what is right in the eyes of God.
James 1:19-20Anger
-
Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Ephesians 4:26RelationshipsReconciliation
-
But refuse to be led astray by foolish and useless questions, because you know that they only produce quarrels. But the servant of the LORD is not quarrelsome, but gentle to everyone, helpful, and able to bear evil.
2 Timothy 2:23-24
-
Whoever is patient is wise, and it is an honor to be able to overlook wrongdoing.
Proverbs 19:11ForgivenessAnger
-
Do everything without grumbling and without doubt.
Philippians 2:14
Resolving conflicts
How to find your way back to each other after a conflict.
-
But if your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Matthew 18:15ReconciliationSiblings
-
Therefore, if you are offering your gift on the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go first and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24ReconciliationSiblings
-
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9PeaceReconciliation
-
If it is possible, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18PeaceReconciliation
-
And bear with one another and forgive one another, as Christ has forgiven you, so that you also may forgive.
Colossians 3:13ForgivenessReconciliation
-
Therefore let us pursue what is conducive to peace and what is conducive to mutual edification.
-
But if you bite and devour one another, see to it that you are not consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:15
-
I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, that they be of one mind in the LORD.
Philippians 4:2
-
Then Abram said to Lot: Let there be no quarreling between me and you and between my herdsmen and yours, for we are brothers.
Genesis 13:8
-
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
Related topics
This might be for you
"Blessed are the peacemakers" – a peace greeting can be the first step after a conflict. Or a card that sends a hug.
Peace - PostcardPeace postcard – a peace greeting to send.€2
Feel hugged - PostcardPostcard that sends a hug when you cannot be there yourself.€2
Fruit of the Spirit Poster - PeacePoster about peace as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).€12
YHWH Shalom - Names of God PosterPoster about JHWH Shalom – "The LORD is peace" (Judges 6:24).€12
What the Bible says about conflict
The Bible is full of conflicts: Abraham and his nephew Lot quarrel over grazing land, Paul and Barnabas separate after a heated argument, two women in Philippi, Euodia and Syntyche, disagree. Abraham proposes a surprisingly generous solution: "Let there be no quarreling between me and you ... for we are brothers" (Genesis 13:8) – and lets Lot choose. Proverbs gives many clues: A conflict is like a dam of water that breaks (Proverbs 17:14), and "when there is no more wood, the fire goes out" (Proverbs 26:20).
How to resolve a conflict
Jesus describes a clear path: If your brother sins against you, go to him and speak about it between you two (Matthew 18:15). Do not talk about him, but with him. Paul adds: Do not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26) – do not let conflicts fester for weeks. And James advises: be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry (James 1:19). Those who are ready to forgive will find verses about Bible verses about forgiveness, about reconciliation at Bible verses about reconciliation and about anger at Bible verses about anger and wrath.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about conflict?
The Bible advises avoiding conflict (Proverbs 20:3), resolving conflicts directly and between you two (Matthew 18:15) and seeking reconciliation quickly (Matthew 5:23-24; Ephesians 4:26).
Which Bible verse helps after a conflict?
Romans 12:18 ("If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone"), Colossians 3:13 and Proverbs 15:1 are helpful.
