What Does the Bible Say About Complaining? With Key Scriptures

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Lord’s Library editors answer the question “What does the Bible say about complaining?” with specific Bible references.

Have you ever asked yourself the question “What does the Bible say about complaining?” If you have, you’re definitely not alone! And since the Bible helps Christians form a foundational understanding of important topics, it’s imperative that one know how Scripture describes complaining in different contexts.

The Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines complaining as “Expressing grief, sorrow, or censure; finding fault; murmuring; lamenting; accusing of an offense” or “The expression of regret, sorrow, or injury.”

Lord’s Library editors thought it would be a helpful exercise to provide Biblical context. As a result, we compiled this short resource which captures all notable mentions of the word complaining, as well as its other forms. If you’ve been wondering what the King James Bible says about complaining, scroll on for additional detail.

Note: If you want to know what the Bible says about complaining and 206 other important topics (to be exact), our editors recommend Spencer Smith’s Doctrine Matters: Bible Topic Guidebook.

The Gospel

What Does the Bible Say About Complaining?


1 Corinthians 10:10

“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Philippians 2:13-16

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Proverbs 17:22

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

Lamentations 3:39-40

“Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.”


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Timothy Andrew
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Timothy Andrew

Timothy Andrew

Tim is the Founder of Lord's Library. He believes the Bible commands us to minister "as of the ability which God giveth" (1 Peter 4:11). Tim aspires to be as The Lord's mouth by "taking forth the precious from the vile" (Jeremiah 15:19) and witnessing The Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4) to the whole world.

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