Bible verses

Bible verses about peace

The best-known Bible verses about peace are John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you," Philippians 4:7, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding," and Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." Romans 5:1 adds that believers "have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Bible uses peace in more than one way. It can mean a calm heart in the middle of trouble, being made right with God, or getting along with other people. The Hebrew word often behind it, shalom, carries a sense of wholeness and well-being, not just the absence of conflict.

The KJV verses below are grouped by those meanings, starting with the peace Jesus promised his disciples on the night before he died.

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Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 · KJV

The peace Jesus gives

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Spoken the night before the crucifixion, Jesus contrasts his peace with the kind the world gives.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Jesus promises peace in him while being honest that the world will bring tribulation.
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 20:19
The risen Jesus' first words to his frightened disciples behind shut doors were, Peace be unto you.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Among the names given to the promised child is The Prince of Peace.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
The angels' song at Jesus' birth announces peace on earth and good will toward men.
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:39
Jesus speaks peace to a literal storm, and the wind ceases into a great calm.
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Paul prays that the Lord of peace would give peace always and by all means.

Peace of mind in anxious times

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Paul's answer to worry: bring every request to God with thanksgiving, and his peace will guard heart and mind.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3
Perfect peace belongs to the one whose mind is fixed on God because he trusts him.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
David can lie down and sleep in peace because God alone keeps him safe.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:15
The Greek word for rule is often explained as an umpire's call: God's peace is meant to settle matters in the heart.
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Psalm 119:165
Great peace belongs to those who love God's law, and nothing makes them stumble.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:6
A mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
Joy and peace come in believing, from the God of hope.

Peace with God

In the New Testament, peace often means being reconciled to God.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:1
Being justified by faith brings peace with God through Jesus Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Ephesians 2:14
Christ himself is called our peace, breaking down the wall that divided Jew and Gentile.
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54:10
God calls his promise a covenant of peace that will outlast the mountains.
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
The priestly blessing given through Moses ends with God giving his people peace.
I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Psalm 85:8
God speaks peace to his people, with a warning not to turn back to folly.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Isaiah 32:17
Peace is pictured as the work and fruit of righteousness.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:22
Peace is listed as part of the fruit the Spirit produces.

Living at peace with others

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
In the Beatitudes, peacemakers are called the children of God.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18
Paul asks believers to live peaceably with all, as far as it depends on them.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:14
Following peace with all men is paired with holiness.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14
Peace is to be sought and chased after, not just hoped for.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 14:19
Follow the things that make for peace and build each other up.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James 3:18
Those who make peace sow a harvest of righteousness.
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7
When a person's ways please the LORD, even enemies can be at peace with him.

Quick quiz

How well do you know Peace in the Bible?

7 questions, every answer checked against the King James text. Play it here, then try a full book quiz.

Common questions

What is the most famous Bible verse about peace?

John 14:27 and Philippians 4:7 are the most quoted. Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee," is also widely loved.

What does the peace of God mean?

In Philippians 4:6-7 it is a calm that God gives when people bring their worries to him in prayer with thanksgiving. Paul says it "passeth all understanding" and guards the heart and mind.

Who is called the Prince of Peace?

Isaiah 9:6 gives the title to a promised child. Christians have long read this prophecy as pointing to Jesus.

Does the Bible tell us to make peace with others?

Yes. Romans 12:18 says "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men," and Jesus blessed the peacemakers in Matthew 5:9.