Toxic people, through their actions or words, can hinder our walk with God and lead us away from His peace and purpose.
The Bible provides timeless wisdom about relationships and the importance of setting boundaries with those who harm our spiritual growth.
Scripture emphasizes the need to guard our hearts and associate with those who encourage and uplift us.
These verses guide believers in discerning and avoiding relationships that cause harm while fostering healthy, God-honoring connections.
Bible Verses About Staying Away from Toxic People
1. Proverbs 13:20 – Walk with the Wise
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
2. 1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad Company Corrupts Good Character
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
3. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 – Avoid Such People
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
4. Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do Not Make Friends with Hot-Tempered People
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
5. Matthew 7:6 – Do Not Throw Pearls to Pigs
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
6. Psalm 1:1 – Blessed Is the One
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”
7. Titus 3:10 – Warn a Divisive Person
“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.”
8. Proverbs 6:16-19 – Seven Detestable Things
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
9. Ephesians 5:11 – Expose Deeds of Darkness
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
10. Galatians 5:19-21 – Works of the Flesh
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
11. 2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
12. Romans 16:17 – Watch Out for Divisive People
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
13. 1 John 4:1 – Test the Spirits
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
14. Psalm 26:4-5 – Do Not Sit with the Deceitful
“I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.”
15. Matthew 18:15-17 – Dealing with Sin in the Church
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
16. James 3:16 – Disorder and Evil Practices
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
17. Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds from a Friend
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
18. Colossians 3:8 – Rid Yourself of Malice
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
19. Proverbs 4:23 – Guard Your Heart
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
20. Matthew 5:37 – Let Your Yes Be Yes
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
21. Proverbs 16:28 – A Perverse Person Stirs Up Conflict
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
22. 1 Peter 3:10 – Keep Your Tongue from Evil
“For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.'”
23. Proverbs 14:7 – Stay Away from Fools
“Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.”
24. Ephesians 4:29 – Build Others Up
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
25. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Keep Away from the Idle
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”
26. Proverbs 17:14 – Drop the Matter Before a Dispute
“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”
27. Titus 1:16 – Claiming to Know God
“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”
28. Psalm 34:13 – Keep Your Tongue from Evil
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
29. Proverbs 18:7 – The Fool’s Mouth Is Ruin
“The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.”
30. 2 Timothy 2:16 – Avoid Godless Chatter
“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.”
31. Proverbs 11:9 – The Godless Destroy
“With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.”
32. Matthew 15:14 – Blind Guides
“Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
33. Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Do Not Be Quickly Provoked
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
34. Hebrews 12:15 – Avoid Bitterness
“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
35. Proverbs 20:19 – Do Not Gossip
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”
Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Toxic People
The Bible provides clear and practical wisdom on the importance of guarding our hearts and relationships from toxic influences.
God’s Word repeatedly calls believers to cultivate connections that reflect His love and truth while setting boundaries with those who lead to harm or discord.
Scripture, such as Proverbs 13:20 and 1 Corinthians 15:33, highlights the transformative power of godly relationships, while verses such as Romans 16:17 and Titus 3:10 warn against divisive and destructive behaviors.
Even Jesus exemplified discernment, choosing to invest in relationships that aligned with God’s purposes while maintaining boundaries with those who opposed His mission.
Avoiding toxic people does not mean abandoning compassion or forgiveness but rather walking in wisdom and prioritizing spiritual health.
By aligning with God’s teachings, believers can foster uplifting, Christ-centered relationships that nurture growth and reflect His glory while lovingly setting limits with those who hinder His work in their lives.