Bible Verses About Racism and Prejudice

Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 06/24/2020
Bible Verses About Racism and Prejudice

Foolish interpretations of the Bible have created the misconception that God approves of racism and slavery. This is a collection of scripture quotes exemplifying God's command to "judge not by appearance, but judge by right judgment." God created each of us worthy and cares about every single person regardless of skin color.

God is very clear in Scripture that all humans are made in the image of God. Jesus himself preached about discrimination and not judging others based on how they look or what they wear. Read these powerful Bible verses relating to the context of racism and prejudice. Teach them to your children and join hands with those who are different from you, and stand for equality.

A Prayer For Healing Racism: Jesus, You see people as precious and valuable. Live that truth through me always. If I’ve wronged someone and racism is the root of that wrong, lead me in reconciliation. Lord, show me my own prejudices so I can seek Your repentance. Guide me to act in ways that lead to true justice. Father God, forgive me for losing sight of the Truth that You created all people in Your image. By Your grace, help me to see hatred - whether initiated or returned - as a tool Satan uses to keep me from experiencing and sharing the richness of Your love. Help me to love the way you love and to spread kindness and mercy as Jesus did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For a more in-depth Christian study of God's Word on this topic, visit our article: What Does the Bible Say About Racism?

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
Colossians 3:13
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
John 13:34
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:
Revelation 7:9
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Philippians 2:3
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
33 “ ‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.
34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
In what ways do you think we are in the likeness of God? - Genesis 1:26
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
6 He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.
7 Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
Love is...
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.