Bible Verses For Kindness remind us that gentle words and small acts of care reflect the heart of God. Whether you are teaching children, mending a strained friendship or simply trying to be more patient with strangers, these verses give clear direction and fresh motivation. Each one is short enough to remember and simple enough to live out today, at home, at work or with a neighbour.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
Paul tells believers to be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving one another because God in Christ has forgiven them.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:12 (KJV)
Kindness is named as part of the clothing God’s chosen people put on, alongside mercy and humility.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)
Showing pity to the poor is described as lending to the Lord, who promises to repay.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8 (KJV)
God asks His people to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly, the heart of everyday kindness.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
Gentleness and goodness appear in the fruit of the Spirit, showing kindness grows from God’s work within us.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)
Love is patient and kind, and it does not envy or boast.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luke 6:35 (KJV)
Jesus calls us to do good even to enemies, because God Himself is kind to the unthankful.
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Proverbs 11:17 (KJV)
The merciful person does good to their own soul, while cruelty brings trouble on oneself.
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zechariah 7:9 (KJV)
Through the prophet, God commands true judgment and compassion shown by every person to their brother.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 12:10 (KJV)
Believers are to be kindly affectioned toward one another, gladly giving honour to others first.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (KJV)
Rather than repaying evil for evil, we are told to follow what is good toward everyone.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverbs 31:26 (KJV)
The virtuous woman speaks with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
Jesus says that kindness done to the least of His brethren is done to Him.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 6:31 (KJV)
The Golden Rule asks us to treat others as we would want to be treated.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 (KJV)
Peter urges compassion, courtesy and blessing in place of insult, even when others are unkind.
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Hebrews 13:16 (KJV)
Doing good and sharing with others are sacrifices that please God.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:4-5 (KJV)
Our own kindness flows from God’s kindness and love, which saved us by mercy rather than by our works.
Kindness in Scripture is practical. It shows up in how we speak, how we share and how we respond when someone hurts us. One helpful habit is to choose a verse like Ephesians 4:32 or Luke 6:31 at the start of the day and ask God to show you one person who needs that kind of care. It may be a neighbour who is lonely, a coworker under pressure or a family member you find hard to love.
These verses also work well with families. Read Proverbs 31:26 or 1 Corinthians 13:4 together at a meal and talk about what kind words sound like at home. Children often remember a verse better when it is linked to a real action, such as writing a note of thanks or helping a sibling.
When kindness feels costly, Luke 6:35 and 1 Peter 3:8-9 are a steady reminder that God is kind to the unthankful. We do not show kindness only to people who deserve it; we show it because we have received mercy. Praying these verses for the people who frustrate you can soften your own heart before it changes theirs.
Ephesians 4:32 works well read right before an intentionally kind act toward someone difficult, as a reminder of the kindness already shown to you first.
Luke 6:35’s instruction to be kind even to the unthankful is specifically suited to a situation where kindness will not be reciprocated or even acknowledged.
Some of the same ground is covered in Bible Verses About Relationships and Bible Verses About Baptism.
All Scripture here is quoted from the King James Version, which you can read in full at Blue Letter Bible.
Bible Verses For Success and Bible Verses For Courage and Strength pick up threads that run through these verses.
This subject overlaps with Bible Verses For Prayer and Forgiveness and with Bible Verses For Family Unity.
Bible Verses For True Love and Bible Verses For Stress are good companions to this page.
Bible Verses For Protection and Bible Verses About Protection explore related themes.
Comparing translations can help, and Bible Gateway does that for free.
For word studies and cross-references, Bible Hub is a helpful next step.
Kindness, biblically, is not contingent on the other person deserving it. Return to whichever of these verses fits the specific act of kindness in front of you.
These verses were never meant to sit on a page as decoration \u2014 they’re meant to shape how you actually respond the next time you notice someone nearby who could use a small, unexpected act of care.
You don’t need polished or formal language for it \u2014 an honest, plainly worded sentence is enough, something as simple as telling God directly for the nudge to actually follow through instead of just noticing.
After David became king, he asked a surprising question: “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). Saul had hunted David for years, and a new king might have been expected to remove any rival from the old royal family. Instead David found Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was lame on both his feet, and restored to him all the land that had belonged to Saul.
Mephibosheth bowed and called himself a “dead dog” before the king, yet David gave him a permanent seat at his own table. The kindness was not a single gift but a lasting place. That is a helpful picture to keep beside the Bible verses for kindness above. Real kindness often means seeking people out rather than waiting for them to ask, keeping promises made long ago, and giving honour to someone who feels they have none.
As you read Bible verses for kindness this week, ask whether there is someone connected to a person you love, such as a friend’s widowed parent or a former colleague’s child, whom you could quietly remember.
A week of short readings lets these passages settle in slowly. Read one passage each morning, choose one small action, and note at night what happened. This plan pairs Bible verses for kindness with longer stories, so you see the principle lived out and not only stated.
If a whole week feels like too much, choose three days and repeat them. The aim is not to finish a checklist but to let each story change how you treat one real person. It can help to write the day’s action on a sticky note, or to share the plan with a spouse or friend so you can encourage each other.
After seven days, go back to the Bible verses for kindness in the list above and mark the one that surprised you most. Keep it somewhere you will see it again.
Kindness is tested most when we have to say something difficult: correcting a child, raising a problem with a coworker, or telling a friend they hurt us. Proverbs 15:1 teaches that a soft answer turns away wrath while grievous words stir up anger. Soft does not mean vague. It means a calm tone and words that leave the other person room to respond. The Bible verses for kindness do not ask us to avoid honesty; they shape how we speak it.
Ephesians 4:15 speaks of “speaking the truth in love,” and Colossians 4:6 asks that our speech be “alway with grace, seasoned with salt.” Read these two alongside Ephesians 4:32 before you meet. Write down the one thing you need to say, then cross out any sentence that is meant to win rather than to help.
Much of our daily speech now happens in text messages, emails and comment threads, where tone is easily misread and harsh words are quick to type. The Bible verses for kindness still apply on a screen. Proverbs 31:26 describes the law of kindness on the tongue, and online that same law governs what we type and send.
A few habits help. Wait before replying to anything that makes you angry; Proverbs 29:11 contrasts the fool who pours out everything at once with the wise person who holds words back until later. Read your message aloud and ask whether you would say it to the person’s face. Add a word of thanks to routine messages. When a public discussion turns sour, a private and gentle note is often kinder than a public correction.
Among these Bible verses for kindness, 1 Thessalonians 5:15 is a good one to keep near your phone. You cannot control every reply you receive, but you can decide what kind of reply you send.
Kindness is sometimes confused with being agreeable. Scripture does not treat it that way. Jesus was kind to the sick, to children and to people others despised, yet He also spoke plainly when truth was needed. Kindness wants the real good of another person, which sometimes means a gentle no.
A second misunderstanding is that kindness means ignoring wrongdoing or staying in a harmful situation. Forgiving someone, as Ephesians 4:32 asks, is not the same as pretending nothing happened or removing every boundary. If someone is in danger, seeking help from a pastor, a trusted friend or the proper authorities is not unkind.
A third is that kindness must feel warm to be real. Often it is a choice made while tired or frustrated. Galatians 6:9 urges us not to grow weary in doing good, because a harvest comes in due season for those who do not give up. Feelings frequently follow faithful action rather than lead it. Reading the Bible verses for kindness with these points in mind keeps them from becoming either soft sentiment or a heavy burden.
You can pray this slowly after reading any of the Bible verses for kindness, changing the words to fit your own day.
Lord, thank You for the kindness and love You showed me in Christ when I had nothing to offer You. Soften the places in my heart that have grown hard or impatient. Give me eyes to notice the person who is overlooked today, and courage to act instead of only meaning to. Guard my tongue when I am tired or hurt, and let the law of kindness be on it. Help me to be kind to those who cannot repay me and to those who have wronged me, as You are kind to the unthankful. I ask this through Jesus my Saviour. Amen.
These are short enough to pray under your breath in a queue, at a desk or in the car. Over time, small prayers like these train the heart to notice others first.
These questions work for personal journaling or for a small group. Pick one or two for each sitting and give them unhurried thought.
For a teaching-focused study of the same theme, see what Scripture teaches about kindness, and read these Bible verses about love for the wider picture of charity in 1 Corinthians 13.
Zechariah 7 is set in an awkward season. The exiles have returned from Babylon and rebuilt enough of the temple to hold services, and a delegation arrives with a technical question about whether they should keep observing a fast they started during the exile. God’s answer skips the question and goes straight to their treatment of each other: “Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother” (Zechariah 7:9). The next verse names the people most likely to be overlooked, the widow, the fatherless, the stranger and the poor.
I find that bracing. Religious people, then and now, like to ask about the right procedure. How long should we pray, which day do we observe, what is the correct form? The prophet answers by pointing at the neighbor down the lane. Fasting that leaves a person hard on a widow has missed the point it was meant to serve.
Translate that into an ordinary week. You might read your Bible faithfully on Tuesday morning and then, by Tuesday afternoon, brush past the coworker who is clearly drowning. Zechariah would say the second moment is part of the same faith as the first. The word “compassion” in this verse comes from a root connected with the womb, a tender, gut-level care. It isn’t polite distance. It is the kind of care a mother has for a child who is sick, and God asks his people to show it to those who aren’t family at all.
Hebrews 13 closes with a list of practical instructions, and among them sits a verse that is easy to read past: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). The writer was addressing Jewish believers who knew the temple sacrifices intimately, and he chooses that very word, sacrifice, for acts of everyday generosity. “Communicate” in the old English means to share what you have, not to send a message.
That is a bold claim. A casserole left on a porch, a ride to the airport at 5 a.m., an hour spent helping someone fill out a form they can’t understand: these are described in the vocabulary of worship. Nobody sees them on a Sunday. No one takes a collection. And yet the verse says God is pleased.
It also tells us something about cost. A sacrifice, by definition, costs the giver. Kindness that never inconveniences you is pleasant, but it hasn’t yet reached the level this verse has in mind. Maybe the next time you are asked for a favor at an inconvenient hour, you can pause and weigh it against this sentence before you answer. You may still have to say no, because limits are real and you can’t rescue everyone. But a thoughtful no and a lazy no are very different things.
Jesus told a story about a judgment scene where people were surprised by what counted. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). Neither group in the story expected the verdict. The ones who were kind didn’t remember doing anything special, and the ones who weren’t kind were sure they’d have helped if they had known.
That detail lands hard for me, because it removes the audience. Think of a cashier having a rough day, a driver who lets you merge, a stranger in a waiting room who needs a phone charger. You may never see them again. If kindness only happens when it will be noticed or repaid, it is really a trade. Peter’s instruction points the other way, telling believers to be “pitiful, courteous,” and not “rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9).
One simple practice follows from this. At the end of the day, instead of asking what you accomplished, ask who you were kind to when nothing was in it for you. The answer may be humbling, and that’s useful. Most people grow in this area slowly, by noticing, by apologizing when they were short with someone, and by trying again the next morning with a little more patience than they had the day before.
Other collections you may find useful: Bible Verses About Kindness, Bible Verses About Faith, Bible Verses About Hope, Bible Verses About Love and Bible Verses About Strength.
To study these verses in more depth, try Bible Gateway, Bible Hub and Bible Study Tools.
Kindness in Scripture is practical. It shows up in how we speak, how we share and how we respond when someone hurts us. One helpful habit is to choose a verse like Ephesians 4:32 or Luke 6:31 at the start of the day and ask God to show you one person who needs that kind of care.
This page brings together 20 King James Version references about kindness, drawn from 14 different books of the Bible.
Yes. The verses about kindness gathered here include passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, such as Proverbs 31:26 and Ephesians 4:32.
Ephesians 4:32 is one of the verses about kindness referenced in this collection, alongside Luke 6:31.
Yes, the verses referenced on this page, including Ephesians 4:32, are quoted according to the King James Version (KJV), and are suitable for daily reading, memorization, or devotional use.
