Bible verses about strength
Key Bible verses about strength include Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," Isaiah 40:31, "they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength," and Nehemiah 8:10, "the joy of the LORD is your strength." In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Lord tells Paul, "my strength is made perfect in weakness."
When the Bible talks about strength, it rarely means a person's own toughness. Again and again the writers say their strength is the LORD himself, and Paul goes as far as saying "when I am weak, then am I strong."
The KJV verses below are grouped by theme: God as the source of strength, strength for the tired and weak, strength through Christ and the Spirit, and the many commands to be strong and of good courage.
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 · KJV
The LORD is my strength
Many of these lines were sung: strength is something the writers praise God for.
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exodus 15:2Sung by Moses and Israel after crossing the Red Sea, the first time the Bible calls the LORD 'my strength and song.'
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 18:1-2David piles up pictures of God's strength: rock, fortress, deliverer, buckler and high tower.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 28:7Strength and shield come together, and trust in God turns into a song.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1God is not only strength in general but a very present help in trouble.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isaiah 12:2Isaiah repeats the words of Exodus 15:2, so trusting and not being afraid go together.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Isaiah 26:4The strength found in the LORD is called everlasting, so trust can be for ever.
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:19Written after Habakkuk resolves to rejoice even if crops fail, God makes his feet sure like a deer's on high places.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psalm 73:26When body and heart both fail, God is still the strength of the heart.
Strength for the weary and weak
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31God gives power to the faint, and those who wait on him renew their strength.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10God promises to strengthen, help and uphold his people with his right hand.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10When Paul asks for relief from his thorn, God answers that his strength is made perfect in weakness.
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
Psalm 138:3David says God answered the day he cried and strengthened him in his soul.
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10Said to people weeping over the law, it tells them the joy of the LORD is their strength.
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Deuteronomy 33:25Part of Moses' blessing on Asher: strength will match each day as it comes.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11God gives his people strength and blesses them with peace.
Strength through Christ and the Spirit
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13Written about being content whether full or hungry, Paul says Christ strengthens him for all of it.
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Ephesians 3:16Paul prays for strength with might by the Spirit in the inner man.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:10Before describing the armour of God, Paul tells believers to be strong in the Lord's might, not their own.
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Colossians 1:11Strength from God is given for patience and longsuffering with joy.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2 Timothy 4:17When everyone else deserted Paul, he says the Lord stood with him and strengthened him.
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6God's work is done not by might, nor by power, but by his Spirit.
Be strong
God's people are often told to be strong, usually with the reason given.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9Be strong and of a good courage, because the LORD is with you wherever you go.
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6Moses tells Israel to be strong because the LORD will not fail or forsake them.
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13Paul's closing charge: watch, stand fast in the faith, and be strong.
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
1 Chronicles 16:11Strength is something to seek from the LORD, along with his face.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
1 Samuel 30:6When his own men talked of stoning him, David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
Isaiah 30:15Strength is found in quietness and confidence, not in frantic effort.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Isaiah 35:3-4A call to strengthen weak hands and tell the fearful to be strong because God will come.
How well do you know Strength 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 best Bible verse for strength?
Philippians 4:13 and Isaiah 40:31 are the most often quoted. Isaiah 41:10 is also a favourite: "I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee."
What does Philippians 4:13 mean in context?
Paul wrote it while explaining that he had learned to be content whether he had plenty or was in need (Philippians 4:11-12). The strength he describes is strength to face any circumstance through Christ, not a promise of success at anything one attempts.
What does "the joy of the LORD is your strength" mean?
In Nehemiah 8 the people wept as they heard the law read. They were told not to grieve, because the day was holy to the LORD, and that joy in the LORD would strengthen them.
Where does the Bible say "be strong and of a good courage"?
The phrase appears several times, most famously in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:9, around the time leadership passed from Moses to Joshua.
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