Evil is a major theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible provides insights into the nature, origins, and consequences of evil. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that discuss evil:
Genesis 3 – The Fall of Man
In Genesis 3, evil enters the world through the disobedience and rebellion of Adam and Eve. After eating the forbidden fruit, sin corrupts God’s good creation. The consequences of the Fall include pain, suffering, disease, natural disasters, and spiritual death (Genesis 3:16-19). This first act of evil introduces all subsequent evil into the world.
Genesis 6:5 – The Wickedness of Man
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5)
This verse describes the utter depravity that led God to destroy the earth with a flood. The inclination of the human heart is toward evil from youth (Genesis 8:21).
Exodus 32 – The Golden Calf
While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites grew impatient and made a golden calf idol to worship (Exodus 32). This act of evil provoked God’s anger. The golden calf incident illustrates humanity’s tendency toward idolatry and false religion.
1 Samuel 15 – Saul’s Disobedience
God commanded King Saul to destroy the Amalekites completely. However, Saul disobeyed and spared some of the plunder. The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul, saying, “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23) Saul’s actions demonstrated the evil of pride, stubbornness and partial obedience.
Psalm 5:4-6 – God Hates Evildoers
“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” (Psalm 5:4-6)
This psalm declares that God is morally pure and devoid of evil. He actively opposes those who do evil.
Psalm 34:13-14 – Turn from Evil
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:13-14)
This admonition to shun evil and do good summarizes a major biblical theme. We are called to actively resist evil influences.
Psalm 36:1-4 – The Wickedness of Man
“Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.” (Psalm 36:1-4)
These verses describe the deceitfulness of sin. Evildoers delude themselves and boldly pursue wicked schemes without fear of God.
Psalm 52:1-5 – The Fate of the Evil Man
“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living.” (Psalm 52:1-5)
Evil brings God’s judgment and destruction. Those devoted to evil will face ruin.
Psalm 97:10 – Hate Evil
“O you who love the Lord, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10)
Followers of God must hate and avoid evil. Love for God necessitates hatred of evil.
Psalm 119:133 – Deliver Me From Evil
“Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133)
This prayer asks God for strength to resist the draw of evil and walk uprightly.
Proverbs 8:13 – Fear of the Lord
“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13)
According to Proverbs, the fear of God entails hating wickedness. Arrogance is considered a form of evil.
Proverbs 11:27 – Seeking Evil
“Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.” (Proverbs 11:27)
This verse warns that those who pursue evil become ensnared by it. We reap what we sow.
Proverbs 15:26 – Evil Plans
“The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.” (Proverbs 15:26)
Wicked thoughts and schemes are detestable to God, even if actions have not occurred. Evil intentions matter greatly to God.
Matthew 6:13 – Deliver Us from Evil
In Jesus’ model prayer, he teaches believers to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13)
This reminds us to ask God to protect us from evil influences and to deliver us from bondage to sin.
Matthew 12:33-35 – An Evil Heart
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:33-35)
Jesus taught that our words and actions reveal the state of our hearts. Wicked words reflect an evil heart.
Matthew 15:19 – From the Heart
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19)
Sinful deeds originate in the evil desires of our fallen hearts, not external circumstances. Our corrupt nature is the root of evil.
Mark 7:20-23 – From Within
“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23)
Like Jesus, Mark traces outward evil to inward corruption. Moral evil arises from man’s inner depravity.
John 3:19-21 – The Light Reveals
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:19-21)
These verses explain that evil hides from the light. Evil deeds thrive in darkness but cannot withstand moral illumination.
Romans 1:28-32 – God Gave Them Up
“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” (Romans 1:28-32)
Paul argues that willful rejection of God’s truth leads to bondage to sin and ever-increasing wickedness. Evil compounds evil.
Romans 12:9 – Hate Evil
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
Authentic love requires hating evil and clinging to righteousness. Love is incompatible with passive tolerance of ungodliness.
Ephesians 6:10-18 – Spiritual Warfare
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)
These verses portray life as spiritual warfare against evil supernatural powers. Victory requires God’s armor and strength.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Shun Evil
“Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
As Christians, we are called to avoid every expression of evil – thoughts, words, and actions. There is zero tolerance for evil.
1 John 3:4-12 – Sin Is Lawlessness
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:4-8)
John equates evil with lawlessness and sin. Those who continually practice sin belong to the devil and oppose God’s work. Jesus came to destroy evil.
1 John 5:18-19 – Born of God
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:18-19)
While the world system lies under evil’s influence, those reborn in Christ have power through the Spirit to resist the devil.
Revelation 21:8 – The Lake of Fire
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
The book of Revelation depicts evil’s final end in the eternal lake of fire. Those who stubbornly cling to wickedness will face everlasting punishment.
In conclusion, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible provides a sober assessment of evil. Scripture attributes all moral evil to the fall of man, the work of the devil, and the corrupt human heart. However, in Christ, evil is defeated. Believers are called to resist and expose evil, knowing that God will eradicate all sin in the age to come. While evil persists in this present darkness, it will have no place in God’s eternal kingdom of light.