Strife

Passages on this topic

From Nave’s Topical Bible (1896), a historical reference index. The groupings are Nave’s; the verses are shown in the text used across this site.

General scriptures concerning

• Genesis 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen.
• Genesis 45:24 Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”
• Deuteronomy 1:12 But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself?
• Psalm 31:20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
• Psalm 55:9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
• Psalm 80:6 You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.
• Proverbs 3:20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
• Proverbs 6:12–14 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
• Proverbs 6:16–19 There are six things that 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 run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
• Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

See Anger

See Envy

See Jealousy

See Malice

Instances of

Between Abraham and Lot' s herdsmen

• Genesis 13:6–7 But the land was unable to support both of them while they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they were unable to coexist. And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.

Abimelech' s

• Genesis 21:25 But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,

Isaac' s and those of Gerar

• Genesis 26:20–22 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quar…

Laban and Jacob

• Genesis 31:36 Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?

Israelites

• Deuteronomy 1:12 But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself?

Jephthah and his brothers

• Judges 11:2 And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.”

Jephthah and the Ephraimites

• Judges 12:1–6 Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammon…

Israel and Judah, about David

• 2 Samuel 19:41–43 Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is o…

Disciples, over who could be the greatest

• Mark 9:34 But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
• Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

Jews, concerning Jesus

• John 10:19 Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.

Christians at Antioch (in Syria), about circumcision

• Acts 15:2 And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers , to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Paul and Barnabas, about Mark

• Acts 15:38–39 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

Pharisees and Sadducees, concerning the general resurrection

• Acts 23:7–10 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the…

The Corinthian Christians

• 1 Corinthians 1:11–12 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:6 Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!