If you are looking for Bible passages about kindness, this list gives you Scripture on how God shows kindness and how He asks His people to show it to others, arranged by the moments when kindness is hardest to offer. It is written for anyone who wants to be gentler at home, at work, or in a difficult relationship. These verses share one thread: kindness is rooted in the character of God, and it is practiced in ordinary, unglamorous choices.
Verses for Being Kind When Someone Has Hurt You
Kindness is easiest when people are kind back. These passages speak to the harder moment, when you have been wronged and a gentle response does not come naturally. They remind you that the kindness you are asked to show is modeled on how God has treated you.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
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Paul ties kindness directly to forgiveness, which tells you that tenderheartedness is a choice you make again and again. Next time resentment rises, name one specific way you can be gentle with that person today, even if it is only a quiet word instead of a sharp one.
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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This proverb is practical wisdom about how a soft answer changes the temperature of a conflict. Before you reply to a frustrating message, pause and choose words that lower the heat rather than raise it.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance…
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Paul lists kindness alongside compassion and patience as clothing you put on deliberately each morning. Try picturing those qualities as something you dress in before you leave the house, and decide in advance how you will carry them into your most difficult conversation.
Verses for Showing Kindness to People Who Cannot Repay You
Some of the most important acts of kindness go to people who will never thank you or return the favor. These passages point to the generosity of God toward those who cannot earn it, and they call you to a similar open-handed love.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
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Jesus says that God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked, which sets a high bar for your own giving. Look for one person this week who has nothing to offer you, and do something good for them without expecting a word of thanks.
Matthew 25:40
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
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Here Jesus identifies Himself with the least of His people, so kindness to them is kindness to Him. When you help someone in need, you can do it as a quiet act of worship, offering it to Christ as you would offer it to Him in person.
Hebrews 13:2
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
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The writer reminds believers that hospitality to strangers has sometimes welcomed unexpected guests. Consider inviting a newcomer, a neighbor you barely know, or a visitor to share a meal or a cup of coffee this month.
Verses for Ordinary Days at Home and at Work
Most kindness is spent in small moments: a patient reply at the dinner table, a helpful word to a coworker, a kind tone on the phone. These verses speak to the everyday settings where your character is quietly formed.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
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Kindness appears in Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit, which means it grows as you stay close to God rather than something you produce by effort alone. Before a busy day, ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate this fruit in you, and notice where it begins to show.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud…
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Paul begins his description of love with patience and kindness, two qualities that show up in daily life long before any grand gesture. When a coworker is slow or a child is restless, choose patience first and let kindness follow in your tone and your actions.
Titus 3:4-5
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…
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Paul describes God’s kindness as the source of our salvation, not a reward for our goodness. Remembering that you were shown kindness first can make it easier to extend the same grace to a colleague who has made a mistake.
Romans 12:10
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another…
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This verse calls believers to honor one another above themselves and to be devoted to one another in love. Try asking someone at work or at church what they need this week, and then put a bit of honor into how you respond.
Verses for Kindness Toward Yourself and Others in Hard Seasons
Kindness is not only for other people. When you are weary, grieving, or discouraged, these passages remind you that God is gentle with His people and that you can receive His care as well as give it.
Isaiah 40:11
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
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Isaiah pictures God as a shepherd who gathers the lambs in His arms and gently leads those who are nursing. If you are exhausted, imagine yourself held in that same tender care and let it soften the harsh voice you sometimes use on yourself.
Psalm 103:13
Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
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The psalmist compares God’s compassion to a father’s tenderness toward his children. Think of one person who is struggling right now and speak to them with the same patient warmth you would want to receive.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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Jesus invites the weary to come to Him and promises rest for their souls. When you feel worn thin, bring your burden to Him in prayer before you bring it to anyone else, and allow yourself to receive His gentleness.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
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Paul calls God the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us so that we can comfort others. The comfort you have received in hard times is meant to flow outward, so consider one person who needs encouragement from you this week.
How to Use These Verses
Choose two or three of these passages that speak most directly to your current relationships, and write them on a card or in a notes app where you will see them during the day. Reading them before a meeting, a difficult phone call, or a family dinner gives you a gentle reminder to respond with patience rather than reaction.
Pray the verses back to God rather than only reading them. Ask Him to show you where kindness is needed, to soften your heart toward someone who has hurt you, and to help you extend the same grace you have received. Over time, you may find that these words shape how you speak and act without much effort on your part.
A Short Prayer for Kindness
Father, thank You for the kindness You have shown me in Christ, which I did not earn and could never repay. Teach me to be gentle in my words and patient in my responses, especially with the people who are hardest for me to love. Where I have been harsh or quick to judge, forgive me, and give me a tender heart in its place. Help me notice the person in front of me today who needs a kind word or a helping hand, and give me the willingness to offer it freely. Let my kindness point others toward You. Amen.
