18 Bible Verses about Cowardice
Most Relevant Verses
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
After this Josnt of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet."
But all this has taken place, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." And when he went out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."read more.
But again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" After a little while those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.
Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway.read more.
And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while again those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Gallilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak."
But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later some one else saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then after about an hour had passed, another insisted, saying, "Certainly this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean."read more.
But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."read more.
Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
Now Simon Peter stood warming himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it; and at once a rooster crowed.
Then all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.
For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision.
But before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. And you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will turn into an opportunity for you to bear testimony. Therefore settle it in your minds not to meditate beforehand how you will answer;read more.
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they began to inquire, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"read more.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a cripple, as to how this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands before you healed.
But as for the cowardly, the unbelieving, the immoral, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
From Thematic Bible
Cowardice » Instances of » Peter, in denying the lord
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." And when he went out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." read more.
But again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" After a little while those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed.
Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway. read more.
And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while again those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Gallilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, looked at him, and said, "This man also was with him." read more.
But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later some one else saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then after about an hour had passed, another insisted, saying, "Certainly this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."
Now Simon Peter stood warming himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » Israel before goliath
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » The ten spies
Cowardice » Instances of » The disciples » When they saw jesus walking on the sea
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid."
Cowardice » Instances of » The disciples » During the storm at sea
And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him?"
But he was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?"
Cowardice » Instances of » The israelites » In fearing to attempt the conquest of canaan
Cowardice » Instances of » Abraham, in calling his wife his sister
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » David at the time of absalom's rebellion
Cowardice » Instances of » The ten spies
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » The disciples
But all this has taken place, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
Cowardice » Instances of » Canaanites
Cowardice » Instances of » Pilate, in condemning jesus, through fear of the people
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Anyone who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover, about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" read more.
But they cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no King but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus.
Cowardice » Instances of » Early converts among the rulers
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Cowardice » Instances of » David, in fleeing from absalom
Cowardice » Instances of » Ephraimites and manassehites
Cowardice » Instances of » Aaron, in yielding to the israelites, when they demanded an idol
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » The followers of gideon
Cowardice » Cowardice, examples of » Ephraim
Cowardice » Instances of » Peter and other Christians, at antioch (of syria)
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. read more.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of them all, "If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
Cowardice » Instances of » The israelites » To fight with the philistines
Cowardice » Instances of » Joseph of arimathaea, secretly a disciple
After this Josnt of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
Cowardice » Instances of » Nicodemus, in coming to jesus by night
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
Cowardice » Instances of » Isaac, in calling his wife his sister
Cowardice » Instances of » Amoritish kings
Cowardice » Instances of » The israelites » To meet goliath
Cowardice » Instances of » Samuel, fearing to obey God's command to anoint a king in saul's place
Cowardice » Instances of » Parents of the blind man, who was restored to sight
His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.
Cowardice » Instances of » Jacob, in flying from laban
Cowardice » Instances of » The philippian jailer
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Cowardice » Instances of » The disciples » When jesus was apprehended
But all this has taken place, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.