What Does the Bible Say About War and Killing?

Human history is littered with killing and war. By some counts, just since 1900 there have been 267 wars with a combined death toll of just under 79 million people.

How staggering would it be if we could accurately calculate the number of deaths from killing and war throughout human history?

The sad thing is that violence seems ingrained in us. It seems to be part of our human nature.

Killing and war are so much a part of us that we have built military colleges and training centers for the sole purpose of teaching people how to kill and make war.   

In the United States (and many other nations) people ingest violence, killing and warfare from an early age through various media outlets. From violent cartoons, we progress to movies and TV shows that tend to glorify killing and war. Modern video games offer the opportunity to virtually engage in lifelike battles, often featuring extremely realistic violence.

It seems people have shorter and shorter fuses. We even hear people angrily shout, “I’m going to kill you!” Often this statement is harmless, but sometimes it becomes a threat that is fulfilled. The use of this phrase further illustrates our tendency to violence.

It is also seen on our highways. Driving mistakes or discourteous behaviors can spark dangerous road rage in a split second.

What is the origin of this inclination toward violence?

We can find out by discovering what the Bible has to say about war and killing.

What does the Bible say about killing?

Not long after God created Adam and Eve, an evil and hateful being began to influence humanity. Jesus described Satan as “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). His temptations and incitements have led to anger, violence and murder throughout history.

The first murder is recorded in Genesis 4. Cain became angry with his brother Abel and struck him with deadly intent. God was greatly displeased with Cain’s actions and punished Cain by making him a fugitive and wanderer for the rest of his life.

One of the 10 Commandments God gave the ancient Israelites specifically forbids murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). The punishment for intentionally killing another human being was death (Exodus 21:12, 14). In Numbers 35:16-21 God delineated acts that would define murder and require the death penalty.

Manslaughter—accidently killing another person—was treated differently. The killer could flee to a city of refuge (Exodus 21:13). However, he had to stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; if he ventured out before, he could be put to death (Numbers 35:22-29). Depending on the age of the high priest, this could be exile for the rest of the person’s life.

It is an abomination to God when someone sheds innocent blood. Murder is one of the many sins that the nations of Israel and Judah were punished for (Proverbs 6:17; Isaiah 59:3, 7).

What do we find in the New Testament about killing?

In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ added a spiritual dimension to the commandment against murder. He showed us it is also a sin to become angry with another person “without a cause” (Matthew 5:21-22). As we saw with the story of Cain and Abel, anger and hate can lead to murder.

We read in 1 John 3:15, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” See also Revelation 21:8 and 22:15.

When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, He explained that His Kingdom was not of this world, so His servants wouldn’t fight at that time (John 18:36).

Christians are citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). We are to obey the laws of man unless they conflict with the law of God, such as God’s law against murder (Romans 13:1-2; Acts 5:29).

For further study, see “Jesus Taught Peace and Nonviolence” and “Citizens of Heaven Under Governments of Men.”

While God has given human governments the responsibility to administer justice, including the death penalty (Romans 13:4; see also Genesis 9:5-6), a Christian is not to unilaterally decide by himself or herself to take another person’s life. God has not given us that right or authority.

Man’s view of war

Before we examine the Bible’s perspective on war, let’s consider man’s perspective. How does society today justify waging war with its carnage, destruction and waste of human life?

It is not that humanity does not recognize the evils of war. Herodotus, the fifth-century B.C. historian, said, “No one is so senseless as to choose of his own will war rather than peace.” Why? Because, he concluded, “in peace, children bury their parents; war violates the order of nature and causes parents to bury their children.”

Yet it seems every country and most religions have a policy that allows for waging a “just” war. For example, the Roman Catholic Church has a “Just War Doctrine” that concludes:

“The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

• “The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• “All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
• “There must be serious prospects of success;
• “The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.”

As necessary and just as such principles may sound, they can be and have been twisted to justify any kind of war.

What does the Bible say about war?

The very first war found in the Bible was when Lucifer (Satan) out of pride and rebellion fought God for rulership of the universe (Isaiah 14:12-14; see “God vs. Satan: The Battle of the Ages”). God, of course, easily won this battle (Luke 10:18), but Satan has continued his warfare, often using humans as his proxies.

While the war between God and Satan is not over yet, the Bible assures us God will win (Revelation 12:9). That is the overall message of the Bible.

But in the meantime, war continues. We see warfare featured in the Old Testament, which gives the history of the Israelite people and their relationship with God.

God freed them from slavery in Egypt and destroyed the Egyptian army without Israel fighting. He brought a series of plagues upon Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery (Exodus 7-12). He continued to fight for them at the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).

God intended to personally expel the Canaanites in order to give Israel the Promised Land (Exodus 33:2). In fact, God told the ancient Israelites He would drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land using hornets (Exodus 23:28). God didn’t want the ancient Israelites to go to war and kill.

But instead of relying on God, the Israelites began to fight their own battles. With a few exceptions, Israel consistently engaged in war. After they made this choice, God allowed them to fight, and at times even commanded them to fight. (Learn more about this in our article “War in the Bible: Why Did God’s People Go to War?”)

During the time recounted in the book of Judges, the Israelites were at peace for short periods, and then found themselves in conflict with other tribes of Israel or neighboring peoples that harshly ruled them for a period of time. They suffered oppression and captivity because of their unfaithfulness to God and His way of life.

When the Israelites would repent of their sins, God would send a leader to free them, through a process that involved war. It was a cycle that repeated itself for hundreds of years.

The reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah were also plagued with war, right up until the time of the captivity of Israel and Judah. Even King David, who experienced God’s blessings and victories, was said to have shed much blood—and therefore was not allowed to build God’s temple (1 Chronicles 22:8).

(One notable exception to Israel’s history of war was the 40 years of peace during the rule of King Solomon, whom God allowed to build the temple.)

The New Testament focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and His followers. It was a time of relative peace in the Holy Land because of the occupation of the powerful Roman Empire. However, throughout the centuries, war has never been far off.

When Christ’s disciples asked Him about the events that would signify the end time and His imminent return, He told them that there would be wars and rumors of wars and that nations would fight other nations. The implication was that there would often be skirmishes but warfare would intensify as Christ’s second coming drew near (Matthew 24:6-7).

The book of Revelation describes the horrendous times at the end when the whole world will be at war (Revelation 6:4; 9; 16:12-16). We’re told these wars would bring about the extinction of all living things on earth unless Christ intervened and took over rulership of this earth (Matthew 24:22).

For a more in-depth explanation about why God has allowed war, please read our article “Why Does God Allow War?”

A time when there will be no more war

Even though Ecclesiastes 3:8 tells us there is “a time of war,” the Bible shows that God has a plan to end all war.

The return of Christ will usher in a new world government—a government under the control of Christ (the Prince of Peace). It will be a government of true justice and righteous judgment. This government will grow and produce endless peace (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Under this government, the earth will be refreshed. Things will be restored to what they were like in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned (Acts 3:19-21). Mankind will not hurt or destroy (Isaiah 11:9; 65:25).

Humanity will no longer learn war, and nations will turn their military equipment into instruments of agriculture (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). God will cause wars to cease and will teach us the way of peace (Psalm 46:9; James 3:17-18).

Peace is what God has wanted from the beginning—not killing and war.

What does God want us to do?

Rather than wage war and kill, what would God have individuals who are striving to obey Him do?

The Bible tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9; see “Blessed Are the Peacemakers”). Furthermore, we are to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14) and strive for peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14).

God wants us to learn to love, bless, do good and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). These are challenging subjects that require careful study. Learn more in our articles “Love Your Enemies,” “What Does It Mean to Turn the Other Cheek?” and “Love of God.”

Will we be peacemakers or warmongers?

Take the next step by studying “The Way of Peace.”