"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). God "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2), and Israel could look back and say, "There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken" (Joshua 21:45). His promises are "exceeding great and precious" (2 Peter 1:4).
A promise is only as good as the one who makes it. That is why God's promises are worth building a life on: He has never broken one. As a new year approaches, many people choose a promise verse for the year or fill a promise jar with Scripture to draw from each day. These twelve King James verses show that God keeps His word, that His promises are yes in Jesus, and that the best promises are still ahead. For God's unchanging character, see the faithfulness of God.
God keeps every promise
1. Joshua 21:45
"There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."
At the end of the conquest, the writer sums up God's record: not one good thing failed; all came to pass (see also Joshua 23:14). Before choosing a promise for the year, remember how many God has kept.
2. 1 Kings 8:56
"Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant."
At the temple's dedication Solomon praised God because not one word of His good promise had failed. Centuries had passed since Moses, yet every word stood. God's timing may be long, but His word does not expire.
3. Titus 1:2
"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"
Paul calls God the One that cannot lie. Our promises depend on our strength and memory; God's depend on His nature. That is why His word is safe to stand on when feelings change.
4. Hebrews 6:17-18
"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"
God confirmed His promise with an oath to give us strong consolation. Verse 19 calls this hope an anchor of the soul. See our page on hope.
Promises that are yes in Jesus
5. 2 Corinthians 1:20
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."
Every promise God made finds its yes in Jesus. When you read an Old Testament promise, ask how Christ fulfils or secures it.
6. 2 Peter 1:4
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Peter calls them exceeding great and precious promises. Through them God shares His own life with us, so knowing the promises well is part of growing in faith.
7. Genesis 9:13
"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth."
After the flood God set His bow in the cloud as a token of His covenant. Every rainbow is a reminder that God remembers His promises (Genesis 9:16), a lovely verse to teach children.
8. Psalms 119:50
"This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me."
In KJV English, quickened means made alive. In hard seasons God's promises do more than inform us; they revive us.
Promises still ahead
9. Acts 2:39
"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
On the day of Pentecost Peter said the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off. It is a good verse to pray over your family as a year begins.
10. 1 John 2:25
"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."
John names the greatest promise plainly: eternal life, a relationship with God that begins now (John 17:3). Every other promise is held inside this one.
11. 2 Peter 3:13
"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
When the news is grim, this promise lifts our eyes: new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. God has promised to set the whole world right.
12. Hebrews 11:13
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
The heroes of faith died before receiving the promises, yet they saw them afar off and embraced them. Faith holds on to God's word even before it sees the fulfilment.
A short prayer
Faithful God, thank You that You cannot lie and that not one of Your good promises has ever failed. As I begin a new year, help me to know Your promises, to hold them in faith, and to rest in Jesus, in whom every promise is yes. Teach me to wait well for the promises still ahead. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Keep God's promises close with our Scripture Memory Cards · Get our free 7-Day New Year Scripture Focus Plan · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
How many promises are in the Bible?
No one knows exactly, because it depends on what counts as a promise; popular estimates run from about 3,000 to more than 7,000. What matters is the Promise-Maker: "hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).
Are all of God's promises for me?
Read each promise in context. Some were given to a specific person or nation, such as Jeremiah 29:11 to the exiles in Babylon, though they still reveal God's heart. Others are for all who trust in Christ, such as eternal life (1 John 2:25). See God's plan.
What is a good promise verse for the new year?
Popular choices include Lamentations 3:22, where "his compassions fail not" (Lamentations 3:22), Isaiah 41:10 and Philippians 4:19. Choose one and write it where you will see it. Our Bible verses about the new year can help.
What is a promise jar or promise box?
A promise box holds cards, each with a Bible promise, and you draw one a day. You can make one from the twelve verses on this page: read the card, look it up in context, and thank God for it.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about the faithfulness of God · Bible verses about hope · Bible verses about the new year · Bible verses about trusting God · Bible verses about walking with God · Bible verses about mountains
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
