31 Bible Verses About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies

Have you ever been hurt so deeply that dark thoughts of revenge crept in? You are not alone, and the Bible does not hide from that pain. 

These Bible verses about wanting to kill your enemies show how Scripture handles rage, betrayal, and justice.

Below, you will find 31 verses from the King James Version, each with a simple explanation. The short answer is clear: God hears your anger, but He calls you to leave vengeance to Him, forgive, and choose mercy. Keep reading for practical steps that can help you today.

Bible Verses About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies

What the Bible Says in Short

The Bible never gives believers permission to kill their enemies out of anger or revenge. It does record honest prayers about rage and justice, like Psalm 139:1922, but it also commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), avoid revenge (Romans 12:19), and trust God to judge fairly.

When Pain and Betrayal Turn Into Thoughts of Revenge

When a friend betrays you, or someone harms your family, anger can feel like the only honest response. Thoughts of revenge, even violent ones, often grow out of deep hurt and a strong wish for justice.

Having such thoughts does not put you beyond God’s reach. The danger is in feeding them. Scripture invites you to bring that anger to God in prayer before it turns into action.

If the thoughts feel strong or scary, go straight to the section on reaching out for help near the end of this article.

What You’ll Find in This List of Verses

This list has 31 verses in eight groups. Each one includes the KJV text and a short, plain explanation.

Group	Verses	Main Theme
Old Testament verses on enemies and anger	15	Honest prayers and kindness to enemies
Warnings against hatred and revenge	69	Hatred begins in the heart
Controlling anger	1012	Rule over anger before it rules you
Leaving vengeance to God	1315	Justice belongs to God
Loving your enemies	1619	Jesus’ call to love and do good
Mercy over revenge	2023	David, Joseph, Jesus, and Stephen
Forgiveness	2426	Letting go of bitterness
God’s justice, protection, and peace	2731	Trusting God to fight for you

Translation note: all quotes come from the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain. Where a verse has a known manuscript note, we mention it.

Read Also: 50+ Aesthetic Bible Verses: Beautiful Scriptures for Instagram, and Daily Inspiration

Why Does the Bible Talk About Hatred and Vengeance?

The Bible Is Honest About Rage, Betrayal, and the Urge for Revenge

Scripture does not show believers as calm people who never get angry. It shows kings, prophets, and ordinary people crying out in pain.

Psalm 139:1922 and Psalm 109 are strong examples. God lets us be honest with Him because He already knows what is in our hearts.

Imprecatory Psalms Explained

Imprecatory psalms are prayers that ask God to judge or stop evil people. Well-known examples include Psalms 35, 69, 109, and 137.

In these prayers, the writer does not pick up a sword. He hands the problem to God and asks Him to act as Judge.

Many Christians also read them as cries against evil itself, and they remember that Jesus later prayed for His killers (Luke 23:34).

Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Hatred

Anger is not always sin. Paul writes, “Be ye angry, and sin not” (Ephesians 4:26). The line is crossed when anger turns into hatred, revenge, or a wish to harm a person. James 1:20 says the wrath of man does not produce God’s righteousness.

Righteous Anger	Sinful Hatred
Hates evil and injustice	Hates the person
Seeks justice and protection	Seeks revenge and harm
Passes quickly and leads to prayer	Lingers and grows into bitterness
Leaves final judgment to God	Takes judgment into its own hands

Personal Revenge vs. God’s Justice

The Bible separates what God does from what you do. Vengeance belongs to God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). 

Governments are told to punish wrongdoing (Romans 13:4). So asking police or courts for justice is not the same as taking private revenge.

Your part is to forgive, do good, and let God judge.

How the Old and New Testaments Fit Together on Enemies

Some people think the Old Testament teaches hate and the New Testament teaches love. The truth is more balanced. The Old Testament also commands kindness to enemies 

(Exodus 23:45; Proverbs 25:21), and the New Testament also speaks of God’s final judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:67).

The exact words “hate thine enemy” in Matthew 5:43 are not found in the Old Testament. Jesus was correcting how people had come to apply the Law, and He pointed back to its heart: love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18).

Old Testament Bible Verses About Enemies and Anger

Psalm 139:1922

“Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” (Psalm 139:1922, KJV)

Psalm 35:13

“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.” (Psalm 35:13, KJV)

Psalm 109:45

“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.” (Psalm 109:45, KJV)

Job 31:2930

“If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.” (Job 31:2930, KJV)

Exodus 23:45

“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.” (Exodus 23:45, KJV)

Read More: 45 Bible Verses About Youth Serving God

Bible Verses Warning Against Hatred and Revenge

Matthew 5:2122

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” (Matthew 5:2122, KJV)

1 John 3:15

“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15, KJV)

Leviticus 19:1718

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:1718, KJV)

Proverbs 24:1718

“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.” (Proverbs 24:1718, KJV)

Bible Verses About Controlling Anger and Guarding Your Heart

Genesis 4:67

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” (Genesis 4:67, KJV)

James 1:1920

“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.” (James 1:1920, KJV)

Ephesians 4:2627

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:2627, KJV)

Bible Verses About Leaving Vengeance to God

Romans 12:19

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19, KJV)

Deuteronomy 32:35

“To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” (Deuteronomy 32:35, KJV)

Proverbs 20:22

“Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.” (Proverbs 20:22, KJV)

Wisdom says, do not tell yourself, “I will pay them back.” Wait on the LORD instead. Waiting is hard, but it keeps your hands clean and puts the matter in the best hands.

New Testament Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemies

16. Matthew 5:4345

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

 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;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:4345, KJV)

Luke 6:2728

“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.” (Luke 6:2728, KJV)

Matthew 5:3839

“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.” (Matthew 5:3839, KJV)

In the Law, “an eye for an eye” (Exodus 21:24) was a rule for judges, meant to keep punishment fair and limited. Jesus says that, when we are insulted, we should not hit back.

Turning the other cheek means refusing to repay evil with evil. It does not mean you must stay in an abusive situation (see the section on staying safe below).

Romans 12:2021

“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. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:2021, KJV)

Paul is quoting Proverbs 25:2122. Meeting an enemy’s needs is a practical way to beat evil. “Coals of fire” is read in a few ways, and many take it as the shame that can lead a person to change. Either way, the command is to do good, not harm.

Bible Examples of Choosing Mercy Over Revenge

1 Samuel 24:612

“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” (v. 6) …

“The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” (v. 12) (1 Samuel 24, KJV)

Genesis 50:1920

“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:1920, KJV)

Luke 23:34

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34, KJV)

As He was being crucified, Jesus prayed for the people who put Him on the cross. This is the highest example of loving an enemy. Some early manuscripts do not include this sentence, but it appears in most Bibles and fits Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:2728.

Acts 7:5960

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:5960, KJV)

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, prayed that God would not hold the sin against his killers. His words echo Jesus’ words on the cross. A young man named Saul stood watching (Acts 7:58), and he later became the apostle Paul.

Bible Verses About Forgiveness, Mercy, and Letting Go of Anger

Matthew 6:1415 

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:1415, KJV)

Jesus says this right after teaching the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:913). He ties receiving God’s forgiveness to giving it. It is a serious warning that holding on to hatred keeps our own hearts closed to God’s mercy.

Colossians 3:13 

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13, KJV)

Ephesians 4:3132 

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:3132, KJV)

Bible Verses About God’s Justice, Protection, and Peace

Psalm 37:79

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” (Psalm 37:79, KJV)

2 Thessalonians 1:67

“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…” (2 Thessalonians 1:67, KJV)

Exodus 14:14

“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14, KJV)

Israel stood at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army behind them. Moses told the people to stay calm because the LORD would fight for them.

When you feel cornered, this verse reminds you that you do not always have to act in anger. God can defend you in ways you cannot see.

Proverbs 16:7

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7, KJV)

Philippians 4:67

“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 4:67, KJV)

Read More: Bible Verses About Revenge: 13 Powerful Verses on Forgiveness and God’s Justice

Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Wanting to Kill Your Enemies

What the Bible Teaches Overall

Put together, these verses give a clear picture. First, God lets you be honest about your anger (Psalm 139; Psalm 109).

Second, He sets a higher calling: love, mercy, and patience (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:1921). Third, He promises to judge fairly (Deuteronomy 32:35; 2 Thessalonians 1:67).

The Bible allows the honest feeling, but it never allows revenge.

Practical Ways to Respond When You Want Revenge

• Pause first. Be “slow to wrath” (James 1:19) and do not act while your anger is at its peak.
• Pray honestly. Tell God exactly how you feel, as David did (Psalm 109:4).
• Pray for the person. Jesus asks this of us (Matthew 5:44), even if you can only start with a few words.
• Hand over the outcome. Say out loud that justice belongs to God (Romans 12:19).
• Do one small good. If it is safe, meet a need, as Romans 12:20 teaches.
• Talk to someone you trust. A pastor, counselor, or wise friend can help you carry the weight (Galatians 6:2).

A Short Prayer for Releasing Anger Toward Your Enemies

Lord, You see everything I have been through. You know my pain and the anger I carry. I give it to You now. I do not want revenge to rule my heart.

Teach me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Bless the person who hurt me, and be my Judge and my Protector. Fill me with Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Bible Verses About Killing Your Enemies in the Old Testament?

Some passages, like 1 Samuel 15:3 and Deuteronomy 20:1617, record God’s commands to Israel in war. They were not permission for personal revenge, and Exodus 23:45 even tells people to help their enemy.

What Does Luke 19:27 Say About Enemies?

In the KJV, the king in the Parable of the Minas says to “slay” the enemies who rejected his rule (Luke 19:27). It pictures final judgment and is not a command for believers to kill anyone.

What Are Dangerous Prayers Against Enemies With Bible Verses?

Scripture does not use the term “dangerous prayers.” It does show prayers for protection and justice, like Psalm 35:13, while Matthew 5:44 tells us to pray for those who persecute us.

What Is the Bible Verse “I Will Destroy Your Enemies”?

Popular wording often points to Exodus 23:27 and Deuteronomy 28:7, which promise God’s help against enemies. They were given to Israel, so read them in context.

What Is the Bible Verse About God Exposing Your Enemies?

Luke 12:2 says nothing hidden will stay hidden, and Proverbs 26:26 says hidden hatred will be shown openly. Trust God with that justice, as Romans 12:19 teaches.

What Are 100 Dangerous Prayers Against Enemies With Bible Verses?

The Bible has no official list of 100 such prayers; those lists are written by authors and ministries. Test any prayer against Matthew 5:44, which asks us to pray for our enemies.

What Are Bible Verses About Destroying Enemies in the KJV?

Common KJV choices include Deuteronomy 28:7, Exodus 23:27, and Psalm 18:40. They describe God’s power in battle for Israel and David, not a call for personal revenge.

What Are Bible Quotes for Enemies and Haters?

Good choices are Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, Romans 12:21, and Psalm 23:5. They teach kindness, prayer, and trust in God when people hate you.

Conclusion

Wanting revenge is a very human response to deep pain, and the Bible never pretends otherwise.

 Verses like Psalm 139:1922 show honest rage brought to God, while Romans 12:19 and Matthew 5:44 show where that rage must go: into prayer, patience, and mercy.

These Bible verses about wanting to kill your enemies all point to one answer: bring your anger to God, leave justice with Him, and choose mercy. 

If you carry heavy anger today, start small. Pray for the person by name, and read one verse from this list again tonight. If the thoughts ever feel dangerous, reach out for help right away.