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Bible verses about why bad things happen.

25 verses about why bad things happen from the King James Version, the most loved first.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 › · King James Version

The most loved verses about why bad things happen.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4 ›

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:20 ›

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

John 9:3 ›

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we…

Romans 8:20-22 ›

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and…

1 Peter 1:6-7 ›

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 ›

All 25 verses about why bad things happen.

  • Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
  • Revelation 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more…
  • John 9:1-3And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his…
  • Romans 8:18-22For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest…
  • Isaiah 55:8-9For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways…
  • Luke 13:1-5There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering…
  • Ecclesiastes 7:14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man…
  • 2 Corinthians 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
  • Deuteronomy 8:16Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at…
  • Deuteronomy 29:29The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all…
  • Deuteronomy 31:17Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and…
  • 1 Kings 8:33-48When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name…
  • 2 Chronicles 6:24-31And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray…
  • 2 Chronicles 7:13-14If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people…
  • Job 33:16-30Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back…
  • Psalms 73:16-17When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
  • Psalms 107:17-21Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near…
  • Psalms 107:23-31They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he…
  • Psalms 119:71It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
  • Ecclesiastes 9:11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to…
  • Jeremiah 24:5Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out…
  • Ezekiel 6:10And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
  • Habakkuk 1:2-4O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and…
  • Matthew 5:45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the…
  • John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome…
20 more verses that touch on it
  • 1 Peter 1:6-7Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith…
  • Deuteronomy 8:2And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know…
  • Job 33:11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
  • Job 36:8-10And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have…
  • Psalms 66:10For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
  • Psalms 107:10-14Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned…
  • Isaiah 1:25-27And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy…
  • Malachi 3:3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer…
  • John 11:4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:4-6Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are…
  • 2 Corinthians 4:11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of…
  • Philippians 1:29-30For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw…
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which…
  • Hebrews 2:10-18For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation…
  • Hebrews 5:8-9Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation…
  • Hebrews 12:5-11And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when…
  • 1 Peter 5:10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish…
  • Revelation 2:10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have…

Every verse is the King James Version, word for word. They are gathered from two topic books, Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's New Topical Textbook (1897); the most loved come first, from readers' votes on OpenBible.info and the lists of the big Bible sites.

Questions people ask.

What does the Bible say about why bad things happen?

The Bible speaks to why bad things happen in verses such as Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”, and Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (King James Version).

Which Bible verses about why bad things happen are most loved?

Among the most loved is Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Others are Revelation 21:4, Genesis 50:20 and John 9:3.

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