The Bible calls men to a strength rooted in God, not in themselves: "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is" (Jeremiah 17:7). When Jerusalem's builders were afraid, Nehemiah told them, "remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses" (Nehemiah 4:14).
Men look up Bible verses for a men's group or retreat, a card for a son, brother, friend or coworker, a verse to keep on the dashboard, or because they are tired and need encouragement themselves. Most of Scripture speaks to men and women alike, but some passages address men directly, and they paint a picture of strength that shelters others, integrity that holds under pressure, and faith passed on to the next generation. These twelve King James verses are a good start. For husbands, see husbands; for fathers, see dad.
Strong in the Lord
1. Nehemiah 4:14
"And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
The builders of Jerusalem's wall were threatened by enemies, so they worked with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other (Nehemiah 4:17). Courage started with remembering the Lord, then protecting the people they loved. They did not stop building. See courage.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:11
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
This sits in the Bible's great chapter on love. Becoming a man means putting away childish things, and Paul measures maturity by love rather than by toughness. Grown-up faith speaks, thinks and loves differently.
3. 2 Samuel 22:33
"God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect."
From David's song of deliverance near the end of his life. God is my strength and power: David had been a shepherd, a soldier and a king, and he knew where his strength really came from. Many men look strong on the outside while running on empty inside; God's strength is offered for both. See strength.
4. Isaiah 32:2
"And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."
Isaiah describes the kind of leaders God's kingdom produces (Isaiah 32:1). A man's strength is meant to shelter others: a hiding place from the wind, shade in a weary land. It makes a strong verse for a card to a father, grandfather or mentor.
A man after God's own heart
5. Job 1:1
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil."
Perfect here means whole or blameless, not sinless. Job feared God and turned away from evil, and he prayed regularly for his children (Job 1:5). His integrity was tested by terrible loss, and he held on. See integrity.
6. 1 Kings 9:4
"And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:"
God's words to Solomon after the temple was finished. The standard was to walk in integrity of heart, and in uprightness. Solomon began well and drifted later in life (1 Kings 11:4). Finishing well takes daily faithfulness, not one great start. A daily Bible habit helps; see studying the Bible.
7. Psalms 40:4
"Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust. The psalmist names two temptations to avoid: the proud, and those who turn aside to lies. Jeremiah says the same, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is" (Jeremiah 17:7), and warns against the man who "maketh flesh his arm" (Jeremiah 17:5). See trusting God.
8. Acts 13:22
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."
God called David a man after mine own heart, yet David failed badly with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). What marked him was not perfection but a heart that kept turning back to God, as his prayer in Psalm 51 shows. That is good news for every man who has blown it. See repentance.
Work, mentoring and standing in the gap
9. Titus 2:6
"Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded."
Sober minded means self-controlled and clear-headed. Paul tells Titus to urge young men toward it and, in the next verse, to be a pattern of good works himself (Titus 2:7). Men grow best when older men show them the way. Who is one younger man you could invest in this year?
10. Psalms 112:5
"A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion."
A good man is generous and he will guide his affairs with discretion: he handles money and business wisely and honestly. Generosity and good management belong together. See finances.
11. Proverbs 20:29
"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head."
Young men have strength; older men have the gray head of experience. Both are glory, and each generation needs the other. It is a good verse for a men's group that brings together twenty-somethings and grandfathers.
12. Ezekiel 22:30
"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
God looked for a man to stand in the gap, to repair what was broken and pray for the land, and found none. It is a sobering verse and a call: be the one who prays for your family, your church and your town. See praying for others.
A short prayer
Lord, make me strong in You, not in myself. Strengthen my inner man by Your Spirit. Give me integrity when no one is watching, a heart that turns quickly back to You when I fail, and courage to protect and serve the people You have given me. Help me to invest in younger men, to handle what I have with wisdom and generosity, and to stand in the gap in prayer. 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.
Start a daily Bible habit with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Keep a verse in your pocket with the Scripture Memory Cards · Give a son, brother or friend the Starter Bundle
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Bible verse for a men's group?
A classic is Paul's charge, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13); quit you like men means act like men. Many men's ministries also use Micah 6:8 and Psalm 1, which pictures the man who delights in God's Word as "a tree planted by the rivers of water" (Psalm 1:3). Pair one verse with a question each week and pray for each other. See husbands and brother.
What does the Bible say about being a man of God?
Paul calls Timothy a man of God and tells him what that means: "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (1 Timothy 6:11). The phrase is about character, not status: running from what destroys and chasing what is good.
What Bible verse can encourage a man who is struggling?
Elijah, one of the boldest prophets, once sat under a tree and prayed, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life" (1 Kings 19:4). God's first answer was not a lecture but sleep and food, twice (1 Kings 19:5-8). Men are often slow to ask for help; if you are struggling, tell someone today. Isaiah 32:2 and 2 Samuel 22:33 above are good verses to send to a friend.
Are there Bible verses for a man's birthday or Father's Day?
Yes. Psalm 40:4 and Isaiah 32:2 work well in a card. For more, see Father's Day, dad and birthdays.
If you are carrying more than you can talk about, you are not alone, and asking for help is strength, not weakness. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (veterans: dial 988, then press 1), or call 911 in an emergency. A pastor or licensed counselor can walk with you.
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 for husbands · Bible verses for dad · Bible verses for Father's Day · Bible verses about strength · Bible verses about courage · Bible verses about integrity · Bible verses about leadership · Bible verses about brothers
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
