You walk on eggshells, never knowing what mood you’ll encounter. Their criticism has become your inner voice, telling you nothing you do is ever good enough. What started as love now feels like control, manipulation, and constant emotional exhaustion. You give and give while they take and take, leaving you depleted and questioning your own sanity. Friends have noticed the change in you, but when you try to explain the relationship, you struggle to articulate what’s wrong because the abuse is subtle, invisible, and often disguised as care.
Perhaps you’ve been told that Christians should always forgive, that leaving would be giving up, or that you need to try harder to make it work. Religious language about submission, sacrifice, and unconditional love gets twisted to justify behavior that destroys rather than builds up. You feel trapped between what you know is unhealthy and what you’ve been taught about commitment, wondering if setting boundaries or walking away means failing at love.
The Bible speaks clearly about healthy versus destructive relationships, providing wisdom for recognizing toxicity and permission to protect yourself from harm. Scripture doesn’t call us to be doormats for destructive people but offers guidance for setting boundaries, seeking safety, and choosing relationships that reflect God’s love rather than distorting it.
Bible Verses About Toxic Relationships
1. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds from a Friend Can Be Trusted
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 – People Will Be Lovers of Themselves
For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
New Living Translation (NLT)
4. Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do Not Make Friends with a Hot-Tempered Person
Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.
New King James Version (NKJV)
5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad Company Corrupts Good Character
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6. Matthew 7:15-16 – Watch Out for False Prophets
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7. Proverbs 13:20 – Walk with the Wise and Become Wise
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
King James Version (KJV)
8. Romans 16:17-18 – Watch Out for Those Who Cause Divisions
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
9. Proverbs 26:4 – Do Not Answer a Fool According to His Folly
Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself.
The Message (MSG)
10. Galatians 5:19-21 – The Acts of the Flesh Are Obvious
Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies].
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11. Proverbs 14:7 – Stay Away from a Fool
Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not understand wise discourse.
New English Translation (NET)
12. Psalm 1:1 – Blessed Is the One
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13. 2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do Not Be Yoked Together with Unbelievers
Stop being yoked with unbelievers. After all, what partnership do right and wrong have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14. Proverbs 29:11 – Fools Give Full Vent to Their Rage
Stupid people express their anger openly, but wise people are patient and hold it back.
Good News Translation (GNT)
15. Ephesians 5:11 – Have Nothing to Do with the Fruitless Deeds of Darkness
Have nothing to do with the things done in darkness, which are not worth anything. But show that they are wrong.
New Century Version (NCV)
16. Matthew 18:15-17 – If Your Brother or Sister Sins
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him while the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two others with you so that ‘every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
International Standard Version (ISV)
17. Proverbs 16:28 – A Perverse Person Stirs Up Conflict
A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
18. Titus 3:10-11 – Warn a Divisive Person Once
Reject a divisive man after one or two warnings, knowing that such a person is twisted and sinful, being self-condemned.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
19. Luke 6:26 – Woe to You When Everyone Speaks Well of You
“Woe, when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.
World English Bible (WEB)
20. Proverbs 25:19 – Like a Broken Tooth or a Lame Foot
Confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Keep Away from Every Believer Who Is Idle
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
22. Proverbs 19:19 – A Hot-Tempered Person Must Pay the Penalty
A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
New American Bible (NAB)
23. Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Do Not Be Quickly Provoked in Your Spirit
Be not hastie in thy spirite to anger: for anger resteth in the bosome of fooles.
Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)
24. 1 John 4:18 – There Is No Fear in Love
There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.
English Revised Version (ERV)
25. Proverbs 6:16-19 – There Are Six Things the Lord Hates
These six hath Jehovah hated, Yea, seven are abominations to His soul. Eyes high — tongues false — And hands shedding innocent blood, A heart devising thoughts of vanity — Feet hasting to run to evil, A false witness who doth breathe out lies — And one sending forth contentions between brethren.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
26. James 3:16 – For Where You Have Envy and Selfish Ambition
For where emulation and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
27. Proverbs 12:26 – The Righteous Choose Their Friends Carefully
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Weymouth New Testament (WNT)
28. Matthew 10:14 – If Anyone Will Not Welcome You
And who euere resceyueth not you, nethir herith youre wordis, go ye forth fro that hous or citee, and sprenge of the dust of youre feet.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
29. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – Satan Himself Masquerades as an Angel
And no marueile: for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers transforme themselues, as though they were the ministers of righteousnesse, whose end shall be according to their workes.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
30. Proverbs 4:14-15 – Do Not Set Foot on the Path of the Wicked
Enter not into the path of the vngodly, and walke not in the way of euyll men. Eschue it, and go not therein: departe asyde, and passe ouer.
Bishop’s Bible
31. Matthew 7:6 – Do Not Give Dogs What Is Sacred
Geue not that which is holy to dogges, nether cast ye youre pearles before swyne, lest they treade them vnder their fete, and the other tourne agayne and all to rent you.
Tyndale Bible
32. Psalm 55:12-14 – If an Enemy Were Insulting Me
It isn’t an enemy who taunts me—I could take that. It isn’t my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend.
The Living Bible (TLB)
33. Proverbs 27:17 – As Iron Sharpens Iron
It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
34. Ephesians 4:29 – Do Not Let Any Unwholesome Talk
Do not let any ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but only words that are helpful in making others stronger. Let your words help those who hear them.
The Voice Bible (VOICE)
35. 1 Peter 3:9 – Do Not Repay Evil with Evil
Don’t pay back evil for evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay them back with kind words. This is what you have been chosen to do. You can receive a blessing by doing this.
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Toxic Relationships
Scripture provides clear guidance for recognizing and responding to destructive relationships. The Bible’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 isn’t just poetry but a practical checklist for evaluating relationship health. Love that’s patient, kind, humble, and protective stands in stark contrast to relationships marked by control, manipulation, anger, and degradation. When someone consistently displays the opposite characteristics of biblical love, wisdom calls us to protect ourselves rather than enabling their destructive patterns.
What’s particularly important is how the Bible balances grace with boundaries. While we’re called to forgive and show mercy, Scripture never suggests we should remain in relationships that cause ongoing harm. Jesus himself set boundaries with destructive people, Paul commanded believers to avoid those who caused division, and Proverbs repeatedly warns about the danger of foolish and angry companions. Healthy boundaries aren’t unloving; they’re wise responses to patterns that damage our souls.
The Bible also reveals that some relationships poison us rather than refine us. While iron sharpens iron in healthy friendships, toxic relationships dull our spirits and corrupt our character. God’s design for relationships is mutual edification, not one-sided depletion. When a relationship consistently leaves you feeling worthless, confused, or emotionally exhausted, that’s not God’s plan but a distortion of His intention for human connection.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I’m struggling in a relationship that feels increasingly unhealthy and destructive. I feel confused, exhausted, and uncertain about what’s right. Part of me knows something is deeply wrong, but I’ve been taught to always forgive, sacrifice, and try harder. Help me to see this relationship clearly through Your eyes rather than through the lens of manipulation or false guilt.
Give me wisdom to recognize patterns of control, manipulation, emotional abuse, or other toxic behaviors that I might have been minimizing or excusing. Help me to understand the difference between loving someone and enabling their destructive patterns, between forgiveness and staying in harm’s way, between commitment and codependency.
Provide me with the courage to set healthy boundaries or walk away if necessary, even when others don’t understand or support my decision. Surround me with people who can offer wise counsel and practical support. Protect me from further harm and help me to heal from the damage this relationship has caused.
Most importantly, help me to remember that my worth isn’t determined by this person’s treatment of me or opinions about me. Let Your love replace the lies I’ve internalized, and give me strength to choose relationships that reflect Your design rather than distort it.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.