abusive relationships
What does the Bible say about abusive relationships? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
16 passages · most helpful first
24Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man, 25lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.
19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.
15But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.
1A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury. 2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge. But the mouth of the senseless gushes with foolishness. 3In every place, the eyes of the Lord consider good and evil. 4A peaceful tongue is a tree of life. But that which is immoderate will crush the spirit. 5A fool laughs at the discipline of his father. But whoever preserves rebukes will become astute. In abundant justice, there is very great virtue. But the intentions of the impious will be eradicated. 6The house of the just has very great strength. And in the fruits of the impious, there is disorder.
9It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
8But if anyone has no concern for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and he is worse than an unbeliever.
7Similarly, you husbands should live with them in accord with knowledge, bestowing honor on the female as the weaker vessel and as co-heirs of the life of grace, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
10Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction, 11knowing that one who is like this has been subverted, and that he offends; for he has been condemned by his own judgment.
2to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men.
18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because of this, he has anointed me. He has sent me to evangelize the poor, to heal the contrite of heart, 19to preach forgiveness to captives and sight to the blind, to release the broken into forgiveness, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of retribution.”
1A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,
1Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband. 4It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body. 5So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence. 6But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.
15But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother. 16But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 17And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector.
2Therefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teacher,
1And now thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob, and who formed you, O Israel: Do not be afraid. For I have redeemed you, and I have called you by your name. You are mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not cover you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not scorch you. 3For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have presented Egypt as your atonement, Ethiopia and Seba on your behalf. 4Since then, you have become honorable in my eyes, and glorious. I have loved you, and I will present men on behalf of you, and people on behalf of your life. 5Fear not, for I am with you. I will lead your offspring from the East, and I will gather you from the West. 6I will say to the North, “Release him,” and to the South, “Do not turn him away.” Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.