Skip to the Scriptures about Discernment
In the Bible, discernment is presented as an essential quality for the believer, rooted deeply in wisdom and understanding bestowed by God. It involves the capacity to judge and distinguish between good and evil, truth and deception, and align one’s actions and decisions with the will of God.
Scriptures like 1 Kings 3:9 highlight the importance of discernment when Solomon asks God for “an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”
The New Testament emphasizes spiritual discernment, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:14 where natural individuals are depicted as unable to grasp the things of the Spirit of God, indicating that discernment is a spiritual gift and virtue. Believers are consistently urged to exercise discernment, to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), and to hone their capacities through the Word of God which is “sharper than any two-edged sword” and discerns “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
In essence, Biblical discernment is about recognizing and embracing what is of God while rejecting what is not, always seeking alignment with His divine will and purpose.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
Here are 24 Scriptures about Discernment:
1 Kings 3:9: “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
Job 6:30: “Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?”
Psalm 119:125: “I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!”
Psalm 119:66: “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.”
Proverbs 2:3-5: “Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”
Proverbs 3:21: “My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion.”
Proverbs 15:14: “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.”
Proverbs 18:15: “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Isaiah 11:2-3: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear.”
Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Daniel 2:21: “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
Hosea 14:9: “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”
Malachi 3:18: “Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”
Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Luke 12:56: “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 Corinthians 2:14: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 12:10: “To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits.”
Ephesians 5:10: “And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Philippians 1:9-10: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 5:14: “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
1 John 4:1: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
James 3:13: “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”