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Bible verses about courage
Passages on bravery, boldness, the command to be strong and courageous, and the way courage in Scripture is grounded in God's presence.
What does the Bible say about courage?
Courage in the Bible is not swagger. It is the willingness to act on what is right even when afraid, and its foundation is always God's presence and promise rather than human confidence alone. The command to be strong and courageous runs from Joshua through the Psalms to the letters of Paul.
These verses are for anyone facing a difficult decision, a frightening situation, or a call to speak or act despite the cost. Biblical courage is faith in action.
Key passages
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Be strong and of a good courage; the Lord your God is with you. Joshua is to make the law of God his rule. He is charged to meditate therein day and night, that he might understand it.
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Be strong and of a good courage; he will not fail you nor forsake you. Moses assures Israel of the constant presence of God with them.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers; the spirit of love to him, which will carry us through opposition.
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed. God speaks with tenderness; Fear you not, for I am with you: not only within call, but present with you. Art you weak?
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. This verse speaks in the wider setting of the cross and church order as 1 Corinthians unfolds its message.
Main takeaways
- Biblical courage is tied to God's presence, not to personality.
- The command to be strong and courageous assumes the reality of fear.
- Boldness in the early church came from the Holy Spirit, not from natural temperament.
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