What does the Bible say about cowardice?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• Revelation 21:8

  But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

• Proverbs 28:1

  The wicked flee when no one pursues; But the righteous are as bold as a lion.

• 2 Timothy 1:7

  For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

• Proverbs 29:25

  The fear of man proves to be a snare, But whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.

• Matthew 5:11-12

  [11] "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

• Deuteronomy 31:6

  Be strong and of good courage, don't be afraid, nor be scared of them: for Yahweh your God, he it is who does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.

• Galatians 2:11-14

  [11] But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned. [12] For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. [13] And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. [14] But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

• Mark 14:66-72

  [66] As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came, [67] and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!" [68] But he denied it, saying, "I neither know, nor understand what you are saying." He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed. [69] The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, "This is one of them." [70] But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, "You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." [71] But he began to curse, and to swear, "I don't know this man of whom you speak!" [72] The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." When he thought about that, he wept.

• Luke 22:54-60

  [54] They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed from a distance. [55] When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them. [56] A certain servant girl saw him as he sat in the light, and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him." [57] He denied Jesus, saying, "Woman, I don't know him." [58] After a little while someone else saw him, and said, "You also are one of them!" But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!" [59] After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!" [60] But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

• Judges 7:3

  Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead. There returned of the people twenty-two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

Study outline

Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.