The concept of karma, widely known in Eastern religions, revolves around the idea that our actions have consequences, which we eventually face. While the term “karma” isn’t used in the Bible, the principles of justice and reaping what we sow are deeply embedded in Scripture. This post highlights 33 Bible verses that resonate with the idea of karma, emphasizing justice, divine retribution, and the importance of righteous living. These verses offer profound insights for Christians and anyone interested in understanding the biblical perspective on actions and their consequences.
Old Testament Verses About Karma
Verse 1: Genesis 8:22
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Highlights the cyclical nature of sowing and reaping.
Verse 2: Proverbs 11:18
“A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”
Emphasizes the correlation between one’s actions and their consequences.
Verse 3: Psalm 7:14-16
“Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.”
Illustrates the principle of karma, where one’s actions have consequences.
Verse 4: Ecclesiastes 12:14
“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Acknowledges God’s ultimate judgment over every action, whether good or bad.
Verse 5: Job 4:8
“As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.”
Reflects on the inevitability of facing the consequences of one’s actions.
New Testament Verses About Karma
Verse 6: Galatians 6:7
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
Asserts the principle of reaping what one sows, emphasizing divine justice.
Verse 7: Matthew 7:2
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Warns against hypocrisy and underscores the reciprocity of judgment.
Verse 8: Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Encourages generosity, with the promise of receiving in proportion to one’s giving.
Verse 9: Romans 2:6
“God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.'”
Affirms God’s judgment based on individual actions.
Verse 10: 2 Corinthians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Encourages generosity and highlights the principle of reaping in proportion to sowing.
Table of Top Verses About Karma:
| Reference | Verse About Karma |
|---|---|
| Galatians 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. |
| Proverbs 22:8 | Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. |
| Matthew 7:12 | So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. |
List of 33 Bible Verses About Karma:
Galatians 6:7 – Reaping What You Sow
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Proverbs 22:8 – Sowing Injustice
Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
Matthew 7:12 – Golden Rule
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Hosea 8:7 – Reaping the Whirlwind
They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.
2 Corinthians 9:6 – Sowing Generously
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Job 4:8 – Plowing Iniquity
As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
Proverbs 11:18 – Reaping a Sure Reward
A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
Isaiah 3:10-11 – Reaping Consequences
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
Matthew 13:30 – Parable of the Weeds
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.
Jeremiah 17:10 – God Judges the Heart
I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 – Casting Your Bread Upon the Waters
Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.
Romans 2:6 – God Repays Each Person
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
Proverbs 21:21 – Pursuing Righteousness and Love
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
Luke 6:38 – Measure Given Will Be Given
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
James 3:18 – Peacemakers Sow in Peace
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Psalm 126:5-6 – Sowing in Tears
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Micah 6:8 – What the Lord Requires
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Galatians 6:9 – Not Growing Weary in Doing Good
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
1 Corinthians 3:8 – Each Will Be Rewarded According to Their Own Labor
The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
Proverbs 12:14 – Fruit of the Lips
From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
Colossians 3:25 – Wrongdoers Will Be Repaid
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed Are the Merciful
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Psalm 37:27-28 – The Lord Loves the Just
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Proverbs 13:21 – Trouble Pursues the Sinner
Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
Romans 12:19 – Leave Room for God’s Wrath
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Proverbs 24:12 – Guard Your Heart
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Matthew 7:1-2 – Judging Others
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Isaiah 59:18 – According to Their Deeds
According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.
Ezekiel 18:30 – Repent and Live
Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
Psalm 62:12 – Unfailing Love
And with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.
Proverbs 19:17 – Being Kind to the Poor
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Isaiah 40:10 – His Reward Is With Him
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
Revelation 22:12 – Reward for What They Have Done
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
Conclusion:
The concept of karma, as seen through the lens of the Bible, underscores the importance of living righteously and the assurance that our actions have consequences. These Bible verses remind us that God is just, and we will reap what we sow. Reflecting on these scriptures encourages us to act with love, kindness, and integrity, knowing that our deeds will be rewarded according to divine justice.
FAQs
How does the concept of karma relate to Christian beliefs?
- While karma is a central concept in Eastern religions, Christianity offers its own perspective on justice and consequences. In Christianity, God’s judgment is based on one’s actions, with the principle of reaping what one sows echoed in various biblical verses.
What role does forgiveness play in understanding karma?
- Forgiveness is essential in Christianity, as it allows believers to break free from the cycle of karma. Instead of being bound by past actions, forgiveness offers the opportunity for redemption and renewal through God’s grace.