Short answer: Yes, bullying is a sin. The word never appears in the Bible, but the thing itself does, and Scripture condemns it again and again: harming people made in God's image, tormenting the weak, and using words and power to hurt. Those who are bullied are told to trust God for justice and to seek help, and those who bully are called to repent.
In This Article
Bullying is repeated mistreatment of someone who has a hard time defending themselves. It may be physical, verbal, social or online, and it often comes from someone who wants to feel powerful or from someone who is hurting. It leaves real wounds, and people sometimes carry them for decades.
If you are being bullied, I want you to hear that God sees it and that none of it is your fault. If you have been the one doing the bullying, there is a way back, and I will show you where it begins. This article walks through what the Bible says on both sides.
Does The Bible Say Bullying Is A Sin?
The Bible does not use our modern word, but it never needs to. It treats cruelty toward other people as a serious offense against God, and bullying is cruelty with a pattern. The foundation is that every person bears God's image:
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
When you demean or terrorize a person, you are showing contempt for someone God made and loves. James puts it directly. We cannot praise God with the same tongue we use to tear people down:
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.
James 3:9 (NIV)
Then there are the commands about how we treat others. Jesus gave us a rule short enough for a child:
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31 (NIV)
Nobody wants to be mocked, excluded, threatened or shoved. By Jesus' standard, no one is permitted to do those things to someone else. Bullying also breaks the call to love our neighbor, which Jesus said sums up much of the law. For how the Bible treats harsh words, you can read Is Cursing A Sin In The Bible? and for what drives the cruelty, Is Hate A Sin In The Bible? and Is Pride A Sin In The Bible?
Are There Examples Of Bullying In The Bible?
Yes, and the Bible does not make them look admirable. Joseph's brothers hated him, mocked him and sold him (Genesis 37:4), and the story shows that God was with the one who was mistreated. Hannah was provoked and taunted year after year by her rival, and her pain went to the Lord in prayer (1 Samuel 1:6-7). Goliath mocked the armies of Israel day after day until David stepped forward (1 Samuel 17:10). In each case, the one who mistreats others is not the hero. God is near to the one who is hurt.
The Psalms are full of the prayers of people who were mocked, hunted and shunned. God does not scold them for crying out. He invites it. If you need words for your own pain, start there.
Is It Wrong To Fight Back Against A Bully?
This is a hard one, and I want to be careful. The Bible does not tell us to put up with abuse in silence. It does tell us not to answer evil with evil:
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Romans 12:17 (NIV)
Paul goes on to say that vengeance is not ours to take:
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath
Romans 12:19 (NIV)
That is not the same as being passive. There is a difference between revenge and protection. You may tell the bully to stop, walk away, tell a trusted adult, report it to a teacher or manager, keep a record, and involve the authorities when the harm is serious. Standing up for yourself and seeking help are not sins. Seeking to hurt the other person in return is. I would not call self-protection a failure of faith; for the question of defending yourself against real physical danger, see Is Self-Defense A Sin In The Bible?
Jesus then went further than most of us want to go:
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
Loving an enemy does not mean pretending the hurt did not happen, and it does not mean staying in a dangerous situation. It means refusing to hate, praying for the person's heart to change, and being ready to forgive if repentance comes. This takes time, and it is often a daily choice.
How Can A Christian Help A Child Who Is Being Bullied?
Parents and grandparents often feel helpless here. I would suggest a handful of steps, and none of them require a perfect response.
- Listen first. Let the child tell the whole story without you rushing to fix it. A child who is believed is already safer.
- Remind them who they are. The lies bullies say are loud. Scripture is louder: they are fearfully and wonderfully made.
- Get wise help. Talk to teachers, coaches or leaders, and ask other believers for counsel.
- Keep talking over time. One conversation is rarely enough. Check in often.
- Pray with them. Pray for their safety and for the one doing the bullying.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
On seeking counsel, the book of Proverbs says it plainly: plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed (Proverbs 15:22). You do not need to handle this alone. Churches should also be places where bullying is not tolerated. Look at The Greatest Sin In The Bible if you want to see how the Bible weighs pride and cruelty against love.
Online bullying deserves its own mention. A message sent at midnight reaches a child's bedroom, and it can be copied and shared in seconds. The same principles apply: save the evidence, do not reply in anger, block and report, and bring in a parent or other trusted adult. Words typed on a screen are still words that carry weight before God, and the person on the other end is still someone he made.
What If I Am The One Who Has Been Bullying Others?
Then the first step is the one you may already be taking: you are asking the question. Bullying often grows out of fear, anger, a need to be seen as strong, or pain someone is passing on. None of that makes it right, but it does help you understand what needs to change. God does not ask you to pretend. He asks you to turn around.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Repentance means more than saying sorry in a hurry. Go to the person you hurt, name what you did without excuses, and stop. Ask for forgiveness without demanding it. Replace the old habit with kindness, and ask God to deal with whatever lies underneath. Read How To Repent for the steps in more detail. You will not be defined forever by the worst thing you have done.
And if you are a bystander, you have a part too. Scripture tells us to speak for those who cannot, and to stand with the weak:
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Psalm 82:3 (NIV)
Staying silent when someone is being crushed is not neutral. A single kind word to the person being targeted, or a quiet report to a person in authority, can change a great deal.
Key Bible Verses About Bullying
- Genesis 1:27: Every person is made in God's image.
- James 3:9: Our words should not tear down people made in God's likeness.
- Luke 6:31: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
- Romans 12:17: Do not repay evil for evil.
- Romans 12:19: Leave vengeance to God.
- Matthew 5:44: Love your enemies and pray for them.
- Psalm 139:14: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
- Psalm 82:3: Defend the weak and the oppressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bullying a sin in the Bible?
Yes. The word is not used, but Scripture condemns cruelty, mockery and the abuse of power over others, and it teaches that every person is made in God's image. Bullying falls under those teachings, and those who do it are called to repent.
What does the Bible say to do when you are bullied?
Do not repay evil with evil, leave justice to God, pray for those who mistreat you, and seek help from trusted people. Telling an adult or an authority is not a lack of faith. It is wise.
Is it okay to fight back against a bully?
Revenge is ruled out by Scripture, but protecting yourself is not the same as revenge. You can walk away, set boundaries, report the abuse and, where there is real physical danger, defend yourself. Keep your heart free from hatred.
Can God forgive a person who has bullied others?
Yes. God forgives those who confess and turn from their sin. Repentance includes stopping the behavior and, where possible, going to the person you hurt to make it right.
What should Christian parents do if their child is being bullied?
Listen without rushing, report it to the school or leaders involved, and remind your child of how God sees them. Pray together, keep checking in over time, and involve other mature believers for support.
