How Many Times Is Peace Mentioned in The Bible? (What Does the Bible Say About Peace?)

Growing up in a Christian background, my parents always emphasized living peacefully with each other. Their over-emphasis on the term “peace” made me curious to learn more about what the Bible says about it. Therefore, I spent a lot of time reading and researching about peace, what it is, how it is used, examples of peace, and generally have a deeper understanding of how it is portrayed in the scriptures in theology school. Understanding peace in accordance with the Bible inspired me to start a “peace movement,” where we meet weekly and educate each other about the essence of peace and peaceful living, as urged in the Bible. In one of our meetings, a member wanted to know how many times peace is mentioned in the Bible. Since I have done a lot of research on this topic, I had the answer at my fingertips. So, how many times is peace mentioned in the Bible?

The King James Version mentions peace 429 times, while the New International Translation mentions 263 times. The word peace appears at different times depending on the translation that you are using. Therefore, the number of times the word peace appears ranges from 263 to 429 times.

So, join me as I extensively discuss peace and what it is in the Bible. I will talk about what the Bible says about peace, the different types of peace, and the examples of peace in the Bible. So, keep reading to learn more.

What Is Peace In The Bible?

Peace has a lot of definitions attached to it, as used in the Bible. First, Galatians 5:22 notes that peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Other than being a part of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, peace in the Bible is not only the absence of war but is also used to mean wholeness and completeness. In Hebrew, peace is translated as Shalom, which means soundness and completeness. Shalom is derived from Shalam, which stands for making something whole or making amends. Therefore, being at peace from the Biblical point of view means being in a whole or complete state.

What does the Bible say about peace? 

How Many Times Is Peace Mentioned in The Bible?
What does the Bible say about peace? Image source: Pixabay

Peace is highly mentioned in the Bible, and the scripture depicts it in various forms. According to the Bible, peace can be related to the attitudes and actions of people, but God is the one who grants us peace (Leviticus 26:6). Furthermore, Isaiah 32:17 notes that the result of righteousness will be peace, meaning peace is a blessing to those who obey God. Isaiah 26:3 continues and emphasizes that God keeps those who have their mind on Him in perfect peace.

Isaiah in Isaiah 9:6 predicted that Christ would be the prince of peace. The Bible goes ahead in the book of Romans 5:1 and notes that it is through the works of Jesus Christ that we have peace and have been justified by faith. God commands us to pursue peace in the book of Psalms 34:14.

Types of Peace in the Bible

How Many Times Is Peace Mentioned in The Bible?
Types of Peace in the Bible. Image source: Pixabay

Inner peace

In worldly life, you will hear many “peace gurus” mentioning that the way to achieve inner peace is through meditation and finding your inner light. However, this worldly message ignores a fact, as stipulated in the Bible, that Christ is the true source of inner peace. Inner peace, as illustrated in the Bible, means your whole heart is at rest, the wholeness and completeness of the Spirit and the mind.

Jesus said to his followers in John 16:33 that He leaves his peace with them so that they can no longer be afraid or troubled. Therefore, as used in this passage, peace can be attributed to the presence of God instead of the absence of trouble.

Peace with God

Billy Graham notes that peace with God happens when we have reconciled with Him through the forgiveness of sins made possible by Christ dying for us on the cross. Romans 5:1 notes that because we have been justified through faith, we can afford peace with God through Jesus. It is key to note that man cannot bring about peace with God, but only God can. This is because even salvation is not through our own works but through faith and God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Peace among men

Peace among men is simply being at peace with others. God commands us, as seen in Romans 14:19, to strive and do what leads to peace and mutual upbuilding. Romans 12:18 also goes further and tells us to try and live at peace with everyone. Therefore, we, as Christians, are expected to be at peace with our brothers.

False peace

False peace in the Bible is used by deceitful men to manipulate others. For example, Obadiah 1:7 speaks about an ongoing misunderstanding and notes that those in peace have deceived others. That means they are pretending to be at peace but planning evil secretly. False peace is also seen in Ezekiel 13:10-16 where false teachers have misled the people by proclaiming peace where there is no peace. Also, in Jeremiah 6:14, the false prophets deceived the people by declaring peace where there was no peace.

Examples of Peace in the Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Peace?
Examples of Peace in the Bible. Image source: Pixabay

Psalms 4:8, the Psalmist clearly expresses that he will lie down in peace, for only God can make one dwell in safety.

Psalms 29:11 thus says that the Lord strengthens those who are His and blesses them with peace.

Numbers 6:24-26, which is mostly used as a benediction, note that the Lord will bless his people, be gracious to them, make His face shine on them, and turn His face towards his people and grant them peace.

Galatians 5:22-23 notes that peace is among the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Other fruits of the Holy Spirit include goodness, love, kindness, joy, faithfulness, self, control, forbearance, and gentleness.

When giving a sermon on the mount, Christ noted in the book of Mathew 5:9 that peacemakers are blessed, and they will be called God’s children.

Proverbs 12:20 notes that promoters of peace have joy in their hearts, while the hearts of those who plan evil is full of deceit.

Isaiah 48:22 is a common example of peace in the Bible and notes that the wicked shall know no peace.

In John 14:27, Christ leaves us with His peace. He is keen to mention that his peace is not like the world, so we should not be afraid or allow our hearts to be troubled. This implies that Jesus offers inner peace. The peace that comes from Him is not external or based on circumstances like that of the world.

In John 16:33, Jesus notes that in Him, we shall have peace, but in the world, we shall encounter various challenges and trouble. He encourages us to take heart as He also overcame the world.

Apostle Paul, in the book of Romans 8:6, notes that a mind governed by the Spirit is peace and life, while that governed by the flesh equates to death.

Romans 12:17-18 reminds us not to repay any evil with evil but instead strive to live at peace with everyone.

Philippians 4:6-7 is a reminder that if we present every situation to God through petition and prayer, He will provide us with His peace which surpasses human understanding.

How many times does Jesus use the word peace? 

The exact number of times Jesus used the word peace will depend on the various translations of the Bible. Christ used this word approximately 23 times, as captured in various Bible translations. However, chances are high that he used “peace” more than these 23 times. In Mark 9:50, Christ urges us to be at peace with each other. Jesus also notes in the book of John 16:33 that we shall have tribulations in the world, but in Him, we shall gain peace.

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