Here is our list of Bible verses on discernment. It doesn’t include every verse in the Bible on discernment, but the clearest and most popular were handpicked. These verses can help us all learn what Scripture says about being discerning so that we can have the kind of attitude God wants us to have.

List of Bible Verses on Discernment

Genesis 41:33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt

Genesis 41:39

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.

Deuteronomy 32:28-29 They are a nation without sense,

there is no discernment in them.

If only they were wise and would understand this

and discern what their end will be!

Deuteronomy 32:29 If only they were wise and would understand this

and discern what their end will be!

2 Samuel 14:17

“And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the LORD your God be with you.'”

1 Kings 3:8-9

 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

1 Kings 3:5-12

5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

Job 34:4

Let us discern for ourselves what is right;

let us learn together what is good.

Psalms 119:125

I am your servant; give me discernment

that I may understand your statutes.

Proverbs 1:5

Let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance —

Proverbs 3:21

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment ,

do not let them out of your sight;

Proverbs  8:11

Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates leading into the city,

at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O men, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right;

they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 10:13

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning ,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

Proverbs 14:6

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning .

Proverbs 14:33

Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning

and even among fools she lets herself be known.

Proverbs 15:14

The discerning heart seeks knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart are called discerning ,

and pleasant words promote instruction.

Proverbs 17:10

A rebuke impresses a man of discernment

more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Proverbs 17:24

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,

but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,

and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;

the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 19:25

Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;

rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

Daniel 2:21

He changes times and seasons;

he sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to the discerning .

1 Corinthians 2:13-14

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned .

Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

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