Short answer: No, it is not a sin to throw away a worn-out or damaged Bible. The Bible nowhere commands how to dispose of a printed copy, and the paper and ink are not holy; the message is. Still, we honor God's Word, so I would encourage you to give, repair, recycle or bury an old Bible with respect rather than toss it in the trash in contempt.
In This Article
If you are holding a cover that has fallen off, pages that are yellow and loose, or a Bible with mold or water damage, you probably feel a pang. That feeling is a good sign. It shows you take God's Word seriously, and I do not want to talk you out of it. I do want to give you a clear way to think about it.
The answer turns on the difference between the message and the object, and between a careful disposal and an act of contempt. Let me take them in turn.
Is It A Sin To Throw Away A Bible?
Not in itself. Scripture contains no rule about discarding a printed Bible, and a modern Bible is a book. It is ink on paper, bound with glue and thread or a cover. The thing we revere is what it says, not the materials. Isaiah tells us where the permanence lies:
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
The Word of God does not rot with the paper. Whether your copy is thrown out or kept, the words it carries are not lost. The Bible also teaches us not to treat any object as a sacred relic in itself, and the Second Commandment warns against making things into idols. You can read more about that in The Ten Commandments. We honor the Bible, but we do not worship the book.
There is a caution on the other side. If a person tears up or burns a Bible out of hatred for God, to mock Christians or to defy him, that is a different matter. The sin there is the attitude of the heart. The Bible gives a sobering example of it in the book of Jeremiah, where King Jehoiakim cut up a scroll of God's words and threw it into the fire, showing no fear and no sorrow (Jeremiah 36:23-24). God's word still stood, and God judged the king. What mattered was contempt, not fire.
Some people also wonder whether a Bible must be blessed by a priest or pastor before it is a holy book, or whether it needs special handling afterward. It does not. A Bible straight off the shelf of a bookshop contains the same Scripture as the one on a pulpit. Some traditions have formal customs for retiring worn copies, and where those customs are part of your church's life, there is no reason to drop them. But they are customs, not commandments, and no believer should carry guilt for not following a rule that Scripture does not give.
The same reasoning applies to the digital Bible on your phone. Deleting an app does not offend God, and neither does replacing an old copy with a new translation. If you are choosing a replacement, you may find Which Bible Should You Read? useful.
Is It Blasphemy To Throw Away A Bible?
Blasphemy is speaking or acting with contempt toward God, and it is serious. Disposing of a worn-out copy with a plain, sensible attitude is not blasphemy. Throwing a Bible across the room in anger, or throwing it away to show you have rejected God, comes closer, because the act is expressing disrespect for him.
If you have done something like that in a moment of rage and feel guilt about it, take it to the Lord. He is merciful, and the Bible says forgiveness is waiting:
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)
If you are afraid of a worse sin, read What Is The Unforgivable Sin? It is not committed by accident, and a troubled conscience is itself a sign that you care. And if you have been tossing your Bible around because you feel angry at God, that deserves honesty with him, not silence.
What Should You Do With An Old Or Damaged Bible?
Before you discard it, consider whether it still has life. Here are the options I would suggest, from most useful to least.
Give It Away
If the Bible is in decent shape, give it to someone who will use it. A neighbor, a church, a prison ministry, a hospital chaplain or a missions group may be glad to have it. This is the best use of a Bible you no longer need.
Repair Or Rebind It
A Bible you have prayed over and marked up for years may be worth keeping. Skilled bookbinders can replace covers and restitch spines, and some people find that a repaired Bible becomes more precious than a new one.
Pass It Down
A worn Bible with notes in the margin can become a family treasure. Children and grandchildren often value seeing how a parent read, and writing in a Bible is not wrong. If you have wondered about that, see Is Writing In The Bible A Sin?
What Is The Most Respectful Way To Dispose Of A Bible?
When a Bible is too damaged to use or give, these are respectful ways to let it go. None is commanded and none is forbidden, so choose what fits your conscience.
| Method | What It Looks Like | My View |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling | Paper goes into the recycling bin, preferably with the cover removed. | Sensible and wise stewardship of materials. |
| Burial | A small private burial in a garden or at a family place. | A reverent option for a Bible that mattered to you. |
| Burning | A private, respectful burning, in the way some honor a worn flag. | Not wrong if the intent is honor, though others may find it painful. |
| Buried or cremated with a loved one | A cherished Bible is placed with the person who owned it. | A matter of family choice and the wishes of the deceased. |
| Ordinary trash | The Bible goes into household waste. | Permitted, though I would prefer recycling. |
Whatever you choose, do it without scorn and, if you like, with a short prayer of thanks for what the Word has done in you. If you are concerned about the cremation question for a person, Is Cremation A Sin In The Bible? may help. A Bible kept clean and in good order is not a requirement of faith, either. What matters is the heart you bring to it.
One more thing. A Bible on a shelf does nothing. If you are replacing yours, let it be a reason to start reading again, and if you do not know where to begin, How To Read The Bible and Where To Start Reading The Bible are good places to look. If you are not reading the Bible at all, see Is Not Reading A Bible A Sin?
Is Saying Things Like "Oh My God" Or "Holy Smokes" A Sin?
People who ask about treating the Bible with respect often ask about words that touch holy things, so I will answer briefly. God's name is not a throwaway word. The commandment is clear, and the issue is whether we are using his name lightly:
You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7 (NIV)
Expressions that use God's name carelessly fall under that command. Others like "heck" or "holy smokes" are watered-down phrases that most people do not mean as an oath, and the Bible does not condemn them by name. If you are working out where the line is, I would ask whether a phrase is replacing a holy word to the same effect. I cover this in more detail in Is Saying Oh My God A Sin? and Is Swearing A Sin In The Bible?
Key Bible Verses About Honoring God's Word
- Isaiah 40:8: The word of our God endures forever.
- Psalm 119:105: God's word lights the path we walk.
- Jeremiah 36:23: A king shows contempt by burning the scroll of God's words.
- Exodus 20:7: Do not misuse the name of the Lord.
- Psalm 138:2: God has exalted his word and his name.
- 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is God-breathed.
- 1 John 1:9: Confession brings forgiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I throw a Bible away?
Yes. The Bible gives no rule against discarding a damaged printed copy, and the paper is not sacred. Giving it away, repairing it, recycling it or burying it respectfully are all better than throwing it out in contempt.
Is it blasphemy to throw away a Bible?
Not if you are simply disposing of a worn copy. Blasphemy is contempt for God. If someone destroys a Bible to mock him, the sin is the attitude of the heart, as with the king who burned the scroll in Jeremiah 36.
Is throwing your Bible a sin?
Throwing it in anger is disrespectful, and it is worth confessing, especially if you were angry at God. It is not an unforgivable act. Take it to the Lord and ask for a heart that treasures his Word.
Is it okay to burn an old Bible?
Many Christians consider burning a respectful end for a worn-out Bible, similar to how some retire a flag. Others find it troubling. If your intent is honor and not contempt, the Bible does not forbid it.
Is saying "Oh my God" a sin?
Using God's name carelessly breaks the commandment not to misuse his name. Using it in prayer or sincere conversation is different. Softer phrases like "holy smokes" are not mentioned in Scripture, but ask whether you are using a holy thing lightly.
