The Bible speaks of peace again and again. In Hebrew the word is shalom: not only the absence of conflict, but wholeness, safety and right relationship with God, with others and with oneself. Here are twenty verses about peace, grouped by theme, all quoted from the King James Version, followed by a simple way to pray with them.
The short version: one of the best-known verses about peace is John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." Choose one verse below, read it slowly three times, then sit in silence with it. Every Sunday at 8 PM your local time, you can do exactly this for eight minutes.
The peace of God
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
Peace of mind and rest
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Peace with other people
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James 3:18
Peace for the world
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 2:4
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Psalm 122:6
Blessings of peace
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24 to 26, the priestly blessing, still used at the end of many services.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
Luke 2:29, the Nunc Dimittis, sung at evening prayer.
How to pray with a Bible verse in eight minutes
This is a simple form of lectio divina, the slow, prayerful reading described in our guide to contemplative prayer.
- Arriving (1 min). Sit. One slow breath.
- Reading (1 min). Read your verse slowly, three times.
- A word (1 min). Notice which word stays with you. Let the rest go.
- Kindness (2 min). Hold one person in that word. Then your city, then the world.
- Giving (1 min). One long exhale. Offer the peace outward.
- Silence (1 min). Sit in what remains.
- Closing (1 min). Read the verse once more and say thank you.
The timer on our home page rings a soft bell at the beginning and at the end. If you prefer prayers in your own words, see our prayers for world peace, short prayers for peace and the prayer for inner peace. The greeting "Peace be with you" has its own page: peace be with you.
Questions about Bible verses on peace
What is a well-known Bible verse about peace?
John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Philippians 4:7, "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding", is just as widely quoted.
What does the Bible say about peace of mind?
Isaiah 26:3 promises "perfect peace" to the one whose mind is "stayed on thee", and Philippians 4:7 says the peace of God "shall keep your hearts and minds". Both connect peace of mind with trust rather than with outward circumstances.
What does shalom mean in the Bible?
Shalom is the Hebrew word usually translated as peace. It means more than the absence of war: wholeness, safety, well-being and right relationship with God, with other people and with oneself.
Which Bible verse is about world peace?
Isaiah 2:4: "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
Why the King James Version?
Its wording is familiar to many readers, and outside the United Kingdom its text is in the public domain. Modern translations say the same things in today's English; the meaning of these verses does not depend on the translation.