As humans, we often wrestle with intense emotions, especially when wronged by others.
The feeling of wanting to harm or even kill an enemy in times of deep hurt or betrayal is real, and the Bible doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the raw emotions of its characters.
While many passages reflect the desire for vengeance or punishment, the Bible ultimately guides us toward forgiveness, love, and mercy, despite these natural inclinations.
These 31 Bible verses highlight the struggles of dealing with enemies, the justice of God, and the transformation that comes from choosing God’s way over our desire for revenge.
Bible Verses About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies
1. Psalm 35:1-3 – David’s Plea for Vindication
“Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.”
2. Psalm 69:22-23 – A Desire for Justice
“Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.”
3. Psalm 109:6-7 – David’s Importunity for Retribution
“Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.”
4. Matthew 5:44 – Jesus’ Command to Love Our Enemies
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
5. Romans 12:19 – Leaving Room for God’s Justice
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
6. Proverbs 24:17-18 – Don’t Rejoice in Your Enemy’s Downfall
“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”
7. Luke 6:27-28 – Love and Bless Your Enemies
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
8. Exodus 23:4-5 – Helping Your Enemy
“If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.”
9. Proverbs 25:21-22 – Giving to Your Enemy
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”
10. Romans 12:20 – Overcoming Evil with Good
“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
11. Psalm 3:7 – Calling on God Against Enemies
“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.”
12. Psalm 7:9 – God’s Judgment on the Wicked
“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.”
13. Matthew 5:39 – Turn the Other Cheek
“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
14. James 1:19-20 – Slow to Anger, Quick to Listen
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
15. Matthew 18:21-22 – Forgiveness Over Revenge
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
16. Psalm 18:47-48 – God’s Protection Against Enemies
“It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.”
17. Romans 12:14 – Blessing Your Persecutors
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
18. Psalm 109:4-5 – A Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
“For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”
19. 1 Samuel 24:12 – Entrusting Vengeance to God
“The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.”
20. Psalm 58:10-11 – Desire for Justice
“The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.”
21. 2 Timothy 4:14 – Calling for God’s Justice
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works.”
22. Psalm 35:8 – Desiring Justice for the Wicked
“Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.”
23. Matthew 5:38-39 – Turning the Other Cheek
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
24. Luke 23:34 – Jesus’ Example of Forgiveness
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
25. Romans 12:21 – Overcoming Evil with Good
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
26. Psalm 37:1-2 – Trusting God with Justice
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
27. 1 Peter 3:9 – Responding to Evil with Blessing
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
28. Matthew 5:44 – Blessing Those Who Curse Us
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
29. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 – Responding to Persecution
“And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”
30. Proverbs 24:29 – Seeking Justice, Not Revenge
“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”
31. Psalm 54:5 – Calling on God for Retribution
“He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.”
Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies
The Bible acknowledges the reality of anger and frustration toward those who wrong us, but it continually calls us to rise above our natural instincts.
While the desire for vengeance is real, Scripture teaches that revenge belongs to God alone.
Instead of seeking to harm our enemies, we are urged to forgive, love, and show kindness, reflecting the heart of God.
The transformation from wanting revenge to offering grace is a powerful witness of God’s work in our lives.
Ultimately, the Bible calls us to trust God to handle justice, while we choose the higher road of mercy and forgiveness.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, acknowledging the pain and anger we feel toward those who have wronged us.
We confess that at times, we desire revenge, but we ask You to help us release these feelings and embrace forgiveness.
Teach us to love our enemies and bless those who hurt us, just as You have shown us mercy.
Help us to trust You with our pain and to know that Your justice will prevail. May we reflect Your grace and kindness in all our actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.