The Holy Bible Verses

50 Bible Verses About Addiction

Explore Bible verses on addiction, offering hope and strength. Learn how scripture guides breaking free from addiction through faith and God's grace.

By The Editorial Team

Verses sourced from the World English Bible (public domain). Selection follows our editorial policy. Last reviewed 2026-04-23. See all sources.

Addiction is addressed in Scripture as a struggle that can be overcome through faith and reliance on God’s grace. Believers are encouraged to seek freedom from any form of bondage, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:12, which emphasizes that while all things may be permissible, not all are beneficial. Hope and strength come from trusting in God.

““All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:12 WEB

Addiction feels like being trapped, a cycle that seems unbreakable. The Bible acknowledges these struggles, offering hope and guidance. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul reminds us that while all things are lawful, not everything is beneficial. He emphasizes the importance of not being mastered by anything. This teaches that while freedom is a gift, it should not lead to enslavement by harmful habits.

Consider the wisdom of Proverbs 5:22, which vividly describes how sin can ensnare us, holding us in its grip. Yet, the Psalms offer a counterpoint of hope, as seen in Psalm 32:1. It speaks of the blessing of forgiveness and sin being covered. Through faith, there is the promise of redemption and a path to freedom. These verses encourage us to seek strength in God, who can lift us from the bondage of addiction.

50 verses

  1. 1

    “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim.teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.””

  2. 3

    “Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

  3. 4

    ““Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.””

  4. 5

    “The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.”

  5. 6

    “I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.”

  6. 7

    ““The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand. They are knit together. They have come up on my neck. He made my strength fail. The LordThe word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.” has delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand.”

  7. 8

    ““Go to Bethel, and sin; to Gilgal, and sin more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days,”

  8. 9

    “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’”Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20”

  9. 10

    “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’””

  10. 11

    “You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false testimony,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20”

  11. 12

    “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Psalm 119:45”

  12. 13

    “Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.”

  13. 14

    “that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.””

  14. 15

    “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.”

  15. 17

    “For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.”

  16. 18

    “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting, unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21”

  17. 19

    “But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.”

  18. 20

    “This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.”Isaiah 59:20-21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34”

  19. 21

    “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,”TR adds “You shall not give false testimony,” “You shall not covet,” Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21 and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”Leviticus 19:18”

  20. 22

    “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

  21. 23

    ““All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything.”

  22. 24

    “For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.”

  23. 25

    “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

  24. 26

    “Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.”

  25. 27

    “For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”Deuteronomy 27:26”

  26. 28

    “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”Deuteronomy 21:23”

  27. 29

    “But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”

  28. 30

    “Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

  29. 31

    “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.”

  30. 33

    “in whom we have our redemption,TR adds “through his blood,” the forgiveness of our sins;”

  31. 34

    “for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;”

  32. 35

    “The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

  33. 36

    “in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.”

  34. 37

    “Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

  35. 38

    “to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.”

  36. 39

    “For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”

  37. 40

    “Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,”

  38. 41

    “looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

  39. 42

    “Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”Deuteronomy 31:6”

  40. 43

    “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.”

  41. 44

    “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.”

  42. 45

    “For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.”

  43. 46

    “Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

  44. 47

    “and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness;”

  45. 48

    “having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing;”

  46. 49

    “Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.””

  47. 50

    “He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.”

For your week

Reflect

God's word offers a path away from the chains of addiction. It encourages reliance on His strength and promises redemption. Consider how His forgiveness covers our sins and offers a new beginning.

Pray

Heavenly Father, please grant strength to overcome the chains of addiction. Guide and support those in struggle, offering them Your boundless grace and love. Amen.

Apply

This week, spend time each day reflecting on 1 Corinthians 6:12. Journal your thoughts on how its message applies to your life and choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about addiction?

The Bible addresses addiction as a form of enslavement. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul warns against being mastered by anything. Proverbs 5:22 speaks of the ensnaring nature of sin, highlighting how bad habits can trap us. While addiction isn't named explicitly, these passages convey the Bible's stance on avoiding anything that takes control over us. Seeking God's strength and wisdom helps us break free.

How do I break free from addiction?

Breaking free from addiction involves seeking God's help and relying on His strength. Psalm 25:22 calls for God to redeem us from troubles. By turning to prayer, seeking support from a faith community, and embracing God's word, one can find strength. 1 Corinthians 6:12 also encourages evaluating what controls us and choosing what is beneficial over harmful habits.

Can God heal addiction?

Yes, God can heal addiction. Psalm 32:1 speaks of forgiveness and covering of sins, offering hope and redemption. Through prayer, faith, and community support, God provides a way to overcome addiction. His strength is made perfect in our weakness, as shown in 2 Corinthians 12:9. Trusting in God's power and grace opens the path to healing.

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