The best Bible verses for saying no include passages about God's love, strength, and guidance. This page features 15+ carefully curated Scripture passages for saying no, each selected for its relevance and depth. Read, save, and share the perfect verse for your situation.
"If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me."1 Corinthians 14:11
"If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me."1 Corinthians 14:11
"If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?"1 Corinthians 14:16
"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”"1 Corinthians 15:54
"While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."1 Thessalonians 5:3
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."1 Timothy 1:15
"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task."1 Timothy 3:1
"Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to."1 Timothy 5:13
"For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”"2 Peter 1:17
"East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:"Deuteronomy 1:5
"From the desert of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon offering peace and saying,"Deuteronomy 2:26
"and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”"Deuteronomy 12:30
"that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known),"Deuteronomy 13:13
Scripture returns to saying no often enough that no single verse covers it. The 15 passages below come from across the Old and New Testaments, and they do not all say the same thing — read together they give a fuller picture than any one of them does alone.
Each links to a study page with the full passage, its context, and the text in six translations, so a verse that catches your attention can be followed properly rather than left as a fragment.
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The most-cited Bible verses for saying no are 1 Corinthians 14:11, 1 Corinthians 14:16, 1 Corinthians 15:54. This page collects 15 of them, each with its full passage, context and the text in six translations.
Read the verse in its surrounding passage before you use it — a verse that fits in isolation sometimes says something different in context. Compare two translations where the wording is unclear, and pick for the person who will read it rather than for the theme.
Scripture returns to saying no across both testaments rather than settling it in one passage, which is why the verses on this page do not all say the same thing. Read together they give a fuller answer than any single verse does.
There is no single best translation. The NIV and NLT read most naturally and communicate well to someone outside the church; the ESV and NASB stay closer to the original wording; the KJV carries the phrasing most people recognise. Every verse here links to a page showing all six side by side.
More than any page can list. This one carries the 15 that are most often turned to for saying no, chosen so each stands on its own and links through to the full chapter it belongs to.