The Bible says kindness starts with God: "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared" (Titus 3:4). His people are told, "be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" (Ephesians 4:32), and Proverbs says, "The desire of a man is his kindness" (Proverbs 19:22).
Kindness sounds simple, but in Scripture it is strong stuff: covenant loyalty, care for the overlooked, and goodness shown to people who have not earned it. The Old Testament often uses the rich word lovingkindness, and the New Testament lists kindness as part of the fruit of the Spirit. People look up kindness verses for a Sunday school lesson, a classroom kindness week or World Kindness Day (November 13), a thank-you note, or a moment when someone was unkind and they want to answer well. These twelve King James verses show God's kindness, the call to be kind, and four unforgettable kindness stories. For practical help, see helping other people; for the fruit of the Spirit, see fruit of the Spirit.
The kindness of God
1. Titus 3:4
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,"
The next verse explains how God's kindness appeared: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5). God's kindness is not a reward; it is His first move toward people who could not reach Him. See the goodness of God.
2. Isaiah 54:8
"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer."
Notice the proportions: a little wrath for a moment, but everlasting kindness. The Hebrew word here, hesed, is God's loyal covenant love, often translated lovingkindness or mercy in the KJV. His kindness outlasts every hard season.
3. Nehemiah 9:17
"And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not."
Part of a long prayer retelling Israel's history of rebellion. The refrain gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness is one of the Bible's oldest descriptions of God, repeated from Exodus 34:6 to Jonah 4:2, where Jonah complained about it because God was kind to his enemies.
4. Psalms 31:21
"Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city."
David remembers a specific time when God came through for him. His marvellous kindness is personal. Try thanking God for one specific kindness He has shown you this week. See gratitude.
Be kind
5. Proverbs 19:22
"The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar."
What people most want in a friend, a spouse or a coworker is kindness, more than talent or money. The second half adds that honesty matters too: better to be poor and true than rich and false.
6. Proverbs 11:17
"The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh."
Kindness benefits the giver as well as the receiver: the merciful man doeth good to his own soul. Cruelty, meanwhile, comes back to trouble the one who practises it.
7. Zechariah 7:9
"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:"
In the next verse God spells out who needs kindness most: "oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor" (Zechariah 7:10). Biblical kindness is not only being pleasant; it includes justice for the vulnerable. See loving thy neighbor.
8. 2 Corinthians 6:6
"By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,"
This is part of Paul's list of how he and his co-workers served, written just after he describes beatings, imprisonments and sleepless nights (2 Corinthians 6:4-5). Kindness under pressure is the real test, and it sits right next to the Holy Ghost in his list.
Kindness in Bible stories
9. Ruth 2:20
"And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."
Naomi realises that Boaz, who has been quietly kind to Ruth in his fields, is a close relative who can redeem the family. God's kindness often arrives through ordinary people. Boaz later praises Ruth's own kindness to Naomi (Ruth 3:10). See women.
10. 2 Samuel 9:7
"And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually."
King David seeks out Mephibosheth, the disabled son of his late friend Jonathan, and gives him a permanent seat at the king's table. It is kindness for someone else's sake, and a picture of grace: welcomed and provided for, not because of what he could offer. See grace.
11. Joshua 2:12
"Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:"
Rahab had hidden the Israelite spies at great risk. Her kindness was answered with kindness: her family was saved (Joshua 6:25), and she is named in the family line of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
12. Acts 28:2
"And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold."
Paul and 275 others were shipwrecked on Malta, called Melita in the KJV (Acts 28:1). Barbarous simply meant people who did not speak Greek. In the rain and cold, strangers built a fire and welcomed them all. Kindness from strangers is still one of the clearest pictures of God's care.
A short prayer
Kind and gracious God, thank You for Your everlasting kindness to me, shown most of all in Jesus. Make me kind like You: tenderhearted with my family, patient with people who frustrate me, and quick to notice the widow, the lonely and the stranger. Let my words carry the law of kindness, and let someone see Your love in me today. In Jesus' name, 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.
Memorize a kindness verse with the Scripture Memory Cards · Print our free Bible verse bookmarks · Study kindness in the Bible with the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about being kind to others?
Paul says, "be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" (Ephesians 4:32), and love "suffereth long, and is kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4). Jesus even calls us to be kind to people who are not kind back, because God "is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil" (Luke 6:35). See loving your enemy.
Is kindness a fruit of the Spirit?
Yes. In Galatians 5:22 the KJV translates the Greek word as gentleness, and most modern translations render it kindness. It is something the Holy Spirit grows in a believer over time, not just a personality trait. See fruit of the Spirit.
What does lovingkindness mean in the Bible?
Lovingkindness is a KJV word, used 30 times (as lovingkindness or lovingkindnesses), almost always for God. It translates the Hebrew hesed: loyal, covenant love that keeps its promises. One of its best-known uses is "thy lovingkindness is better than life" (Psalm 63:3).
What are good kindness Bible verses for kids?
Ephesians 4:32 is short and memorable. The Golden Rule is another: "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew 7:12). For a kindness week, pair a verse with one kind act a day, such as a note, a shared snack or an invitation to someone who sits alone. See Bible verses for kids.
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 helping other people · Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit · Bible verses about loving thy neighbor · Bible verses about mercy · Bible verses about the goodness of God · Bible verses about encouraging others · Bible verses about loving your enemy · Bible verses for kids
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
