What Does The Bible Say About Arguing? (25 Bible Verses)

The Bible offers wisdom on avoiding unnecessary arguments, promoting peace and understanding. It encourages careful words and patience in dealing with conflict. Discover how these teachings can help us handle disagreements with kindness and respect.

Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Honesty

What Does The Bible Say About Arguing

Proverbs 17:14

“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”

This verse emphasizes the importance of avoiding unnecessary arguments and conflicts. It highlights the potential destructive consequences of engaging in disputes, compared to the wisdom of letting go and maintaining peace.

By choosing to drop the matter rather than pursuing an argument, we demonstrate humility and promote unity in relationships, fostering a peaceful and harmonious environment.

Proverbs 20:3

“Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.”

This verse encourages us to prioritize peace and honor by avoiding unnecessary fights and conflicts. It emphasizes that engaging in quarrels only reveals a lack of wisdom and understanding.

Choosing not to quarrel demonstrates maturity and self-control, allowing us to build healthy relationships and maintain a peaceful atmosphere in our interactions with others.

Proverbs 26:20

“Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a quarrel dies down.”

This verse sheds light on the destructive nature of gossip and how it fuels quarrels and conflicts. Just as a fire needs wood to continue burning, a quarrel needs gossip to keep it alive.

In order to prevent arguments from escalating, it is crucial to refrain from spreading rumors or engaging in gossip that fuels hostility. By refusing to participate in gossip, we can contribute to diffusing conflicts and promoting peace.

Proverbs 29:22

“An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”

This verse highlights the negative impact of anger and hot-temperedness on relationships. It emphasizes that allowing anger to control our actions can lead to conflicts and multiply our sinful behavior.

By cultivating self-control and addressing our anger in healthy ways, we can avoid unnecessary arguments and promote understanding and reconciliation in our relationships.

Ephesians 4:31

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.”

This verse emphasizes the need to let go of negative emotions and toxic behaviors that can fuel arguments and conflicts. It encourages us to actively remove bitterness, anger, and the use of hurtful words from our lives.

By choosing to cultivate forgiveness, kindness, and love, we can prevent arguments from arising and contribute to a peaceful and harmonious community.

James 1:19-20

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

This verse highlights the importance of practicing active listening and exercising self-control in our communication. It reminds us that quick-temperedness and hasty speech can lead to more harm than good.

By being intentional in our listening, slow to speak, and slow to anger, we align our behavior with God’s desire for righteousness and contribute to peaceful resolutions and understanding in our interactions.

Proverbs 15:1

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

This verse teaches us the power of responding with gentleness and kindness in the face of potential arguments or conflicts. It highlights the role of our words in either escalating or defusing tense situations.

By choosing to respond gently, we can prevent arguments from intensifying and contribute to a peaceful resolution and healing in our relationships.

Proverbs 29:11

“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.”

This verse contrasts the behavior of fools who let their anger control them and the wise who are able to restrain their emotions. It highlights the importance of self-control when dealing with anger.

By choosing to hold back our anger and respond with wisdom and restraint, we can avoid unnecessary arguments and contribute to a peaceful and respectful environment.

Proverbs 25:8

“Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.”

This verse encourages us to exercise caution and avoid making hasty judgments or assumptions that can lead to arguments and conflicts. It reminds us to consider that there may be additional information or context that we are unaware of.

By practicing open-mindedness and seeking understanding before jumping to conclusions, we can promote healthy communication and prevent unnecessary disputes.

Proverbs 10:19

“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

This verse reminds us of the importance of controlling our speech and being aware of the potential consequences of our words. It urges us to exercise wisdom and discretion in our communication.

By being mindful of the impact of our words and choosing silence when necessary, we can avoid unnecessary arguments and maintain peace in our relationships.

Colossians 3:13

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

This verse emphasizes the need for forgiveness and grace in our interactions with others. It reminds us that we have been forgiven by God, and therefore, we should extend the same forgiveness to those who offend us.

By choosing to make allowances for the faults of others and extending forgiveness, we can prevent arguments and promote reconciliation and unity in our relationships.

Proverbs 14:29

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

This verse underscores the importance of patience in our interactions with others. It highlights that patience is a key attribute of wisdom, while quick-temperedness reveals foolishness.

By cultivating patience, we can prevent unnecessary arguments and conflicts, allowing for greater understanding and empathy in our relationships.

2 Timothy 2:23-24

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and not resentful.”

This verse advises us to avoid engaging in pointless and foolish arguments as they only lead to quarrels. Instead, it encourages us to exhibit kindness, patience, and a teachable spirit.

By choosing not to participate in meaningless disputes and focusing on displaying Christ-like character, we promote unity and peace in our interactions with others.

Matthew 7:3-5

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

This verse challenges us to examine ourselves before criticizing or arguing with others. It reminds us to address our own faults and shortcomings before attempting to help others.

By practicing self-reflection and humility, we can avoid unnecessary arguments and approach conflicts with a posture of understanding and empathy.

Psalm 133:1

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

This verse celebrates the beauty and desirability of unity among God’s people. It emphasizes the importance of living in harmony and peace, free from unnecessary arguments and conflicts.

By striving for unity, we reflect the character of God and foster an atmosphere of love and cooperation in our relationships and communities.

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

This verse reminds us of the transformational work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, producing qualities that promote peaceful relationships. It highlights the importance of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

By allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate these qualities in us, we can navigate conflicts with wisdom and grace, maintaining peace and harmony in our interactions with others.

Romans 14:19

“So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”

This verse encourages believers to pursue harmony and unity within the community of faith. It emphasizes the importance of building one another up rather than engaging in arguments or causing division.

By prioritizing harmony and seeking to edify one another, we create an environment that fosters love, growth, and unity in the body of Christ.

Titus 3:9

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.”

This verse cautions against engaging in vain and fruitless arguments over trivial matters. It advises believers to steer clear of unnecessary controversies and disagreements that do not bear any spiritual value.

By focusing on what truly matters and refusing to be entangled in pointless disputes, we invest our time and energy into more meaningful endeavors that build up the body of Christ.

Proverbs 13:10

“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

This verse unveils the connection between pride and strife, emphasizing that wisdom is displayed in those who humbly seek and accept advice.

By embracing humility and valuing the wisdom that comes from seeking counsel, we can avoid unnecessary arguments and foster an atmosphere of understanding and growth.

Proverbs 21:23

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

This verse underscores the importance of exercising self-control over our words. It highlights that being mindful of what we say can prevent unnecessary conflicts and the negative consequences that may follow.

By guarding our speech and choosing our words carefully, we can maintain peace and protect ourselves and others from unnecessary harm.

Matthew 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

This verse reminds us of the blessedness and honor of being peacemakers. It recognizes those who actively seek to reconcile, heal, and promote peace as children of God.

By actively pursuing peace and working towards reconciliation and understanding, we reflect the character of our heavenly Father in our relationships.

Proverbs 15:18

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”

This verse contrasts the negative impact of a hot-tempered person with the calming effect of patience. It emphasizes how patience has the power to extinguish conflicts and bring about resolution.

By choosing patience over impulsive reactions, we can defuse arguments and contribute to peaceful resolutions in our relationships.

Proverbs 21:19

“Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.”

This verse highlights the detrimental effects of constant quarreling and nagging in a relationship. It conveys the wisdom of avoiding such behavior, recognizing the negative impact it has on the peace and well-being of a household.

By practicing understanding, patience, and kindness, we can build healthy and harmonious relationships that promote peace and flourishing.

1 Corinthians 1:10

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

This verse calls for unity and agreement among believers, urging them to avoid divisions and strive for perfect unity of mind and thought.

By valuing unity and seeking common ground, we can prevent unnecessary arguments and conflicts within the body of Christ, reflecting the love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.