Sin is a major theme throughout the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about sin from the Old and New Testaments:
Genesis 3:1-24
The story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden is the original sin that brought death and suffering into the world. “But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5)
Genesis 4:7
“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Sin desires to master us, but through God’s help, we can overcome it.
Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments given to Moses forbid many sins including idolatry, blasphemy, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting.
Leviticus 4
Outline of the sin offerings required to atone for unintentional sins committed by the anointed priest, the whole congregation, a leader, or a common person. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11)
Numbers 15:27-31
Sins committed unintentionally can be atoned for with offerings, but defiant sins are blasphemous. “But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the Lord, and that person must be cut off from his people.”
Deuteronomy 9:7-29
Moses reminds the Israelites of their stubbornness and rebellion against God. “They have been quick to turn from the way that I commanded them; they have broken the tablets of stone which I made.” We are prone to sin even when we know God’s laws.
1 Kings 8:46-50
Solomon recognizes that all people sin, but begs God for forgiveness when they repent. “We have sinned, we have acted perversely, we have acted wickedly.” God offers mercy when we confess.
Psalm 51
David’s prayer of repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” We should admit when we sin against God.
Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” We easily fall into sinful ways not realizing they lead to death.
Isaiah 1:2-20
Isaiah laments Judah’s rebellion and calls them to repentance. “Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight.” God wants us to repent of wickedness.
Jeremiah 2:22
“Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me.” Superficial repentance does not remove sin. True repentance required.
Ezekiel 18:4
“The soul who sins shall die.” Judgment falls upon the one who sins.
Hosea 13:1-2
“When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.” Sin leads only to death, even for the exalted.
Micah 7:18-19
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression?” God delights in showing mercy and pardoning sinners who repent.
Matthew 5:21-30
Jesus equates anger with murder and lust with adultery. Sin begins in our hearts before becoming actions.
Matthew 6:14-15
Jesus links God’s forgiveness of our sins to our forgiveness of others. “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 12:31-32
Jesus says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”
Matthew 15:19
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Sin originates in the heart.
Mark 7:20-23
Jesus lists evil deeds that come from within and defile us. “He went on: ‘It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within and defile a person.’”
Luke 15:7
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Repentance leads to rejoicing.
Luke 17:1-4
Jesus warns against being a stumbling block to others and calls us to forgive a repentant sinner even if he sins and repents seven times a day.
John 8:7
“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus shows grace to the woman caught in adultery.
John 8:34
“Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Sin becomes a slavery.
Acts 3:19
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Repentance brings forgiveness.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are all guilty of sin.
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin earns death, but Christ offers salvation.
Romans 7:14-20
Paul laments his struggle with sinful flesh. “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” We have an ongoing battle with sin.
Romans 14:23
“But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Going against conscience can be sin.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Paul warns that the impenitent sinful will not inherit the kingdom then reminds the Corinthians “and that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” We can be forgiven and cleansed from all sorts of sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” God helps us resist sin.
Galatians 5:19-21
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Serious sins that can keep one from heaven if unrepentant.
Ephesians 4:26
“In your anger do not sin.” Our anger can lead to sin.
Colossians 3:5-6
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” Sins that invoke judgment.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” God calls us to avoid sexual sin.
Titus 3:3-7
Paul reminds Titus that even those once enslaved to sin can be “saved through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Salvation transforms sinners.
Hebrews 3:12-13
The author warns against allowing sin to harden our hearts and lead us astray. “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Sin subtly hardens hearts.
Hebrews 10:26-27
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Those who know the truth yet defiantly persist in sin face judgment.
James 1:14-15
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Sin begins as temptation then grows.
James 4:17
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Failing to do good can be a sin.
1 John 1:5-10
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” We deceive ourselves if we claim to be sinless.
1 John 3:4-10
“No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” Persisting in sin indicates one does not know Christ.
1 John 5:16-17
Distinguishes between sin that does and does not lead to death. “There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.” Not all sins are equally serious.
In summary, the Bible is clear that all people sin and fall short of God’s perfect standard. Yet the story of Scripture is one of God reaching out in love to rescue and redeem sinners through Christ. Sin grieves God’s heart and harms us, but by God’s grace and the Spirit’s empowering, we can turn from sin and walk in newness of life. The path of repentance leads to refreshing communion with God.