Fear can make you search for a verse that will instantly make everything feel safe. The Bible points us toward trust in God, the authority of Jesus Christ, and a life of prayer and faithful obedience. These Bible verses about protection from evil explain those themes in context. They offer a way to pray with confidence without treating Scripture like a charm or assuming that every frightening experience is evidence of an evil spirit.
What does the Bible say about protection from evil?
Jesus confronts evil in the Gospels, and the New Testament calls believers to resist the devil through faith, submission to God, and perseverance. Ephesians 6 describes truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, God’s word, and prayer. It does not instruct us to label difficult people as demons or to treat a repeated phrase as a spiritual formula.
The Old Testament passages below include warnings against divination, accounts of deliverance, and prayers for refuge. Several are about danger more broadly, rather than evil spirits specifically. Their original setting helps us avoid turning every promise into a guarantee of immediate safety.
Fear, nightmares, illness, or distress alone do not establish a spiritual cause. Seek compassionate support from a trusted pastor and, when needed, a qualified health professional. Prayer and appropriate care can work together.
Scripture quotations below are from the King James Version (KJV); some are excerpts. Each numbered entry is one passage and may include more than one verse. Reflections and prayers are devotional commentary.
Old Testament warnings and examples of deliverance
These passages distinguish trusting God from seeking guidance through occult practices. The narratives about Saul describe specific events, including his disobedience and distress. They are not instructions for identifying the cause of a modern person’s symptoms or for performing a ritual.
1. Exodus 23:25
“And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”
2. Leviticus 19:31
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
3. Leviticus 20:6
“And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”
4. Numbers 23:23
“Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!”
5. Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
6. 1 Samuel 16:14-23
“And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”
7. 1 Samuel 28:7-20
Passage summary: Saul seeks out a medium despite the prohibition he had enforced. Read the complete account as a warning about his disobedience, not as guidance for seeking spiritual help.
8. 2 Kings 6:16-17
“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
9. 2 Kings 17:17
“And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
10. 2 Kings 21:6
“And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
11. 2 Chronicles 33:6
“And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
Old Testament prayers for refuge and courage
Here we meet prayers, prophetic promises, and accounts of rescue. Jeremiah 29:11 addresses exiles facing a long wait; Daniel 6 records a particular deliverance. Malachi 3:11 concerns crops within Israel’s covenant setting, not a promise that donations purchase protection from evil spirits.
12. Psalm 34:7
“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
13. Psalm 91:9-10
“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”
14. Psalm 118:6
“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”
15. Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
16. Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
17. Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
18. Jeremiah 33:3
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
19. Daniel 6:22
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”
20. Joel 2:32
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.”
21. Micah 5:12
“And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers.”
22. Zechariah 4:6
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
23. Zechariah 10:2
“For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.”
24. Malachi 3:11
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.”
25. Malachi 4:2
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
26. Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
27. Psalm 31:24
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
28. Psalm 91:4
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
29. Psalm 118:8
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
30. Psalm 140:4
“Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.”
31. Psalm 140:7
“O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.”
32. Proverbs 3:24-26
“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
Jesus’ authority over evil
The Gospel and Acts accounts place the emphasis on God’s authority, not on a special object or impressive wording. Mark 16:17 belongs to the longer ending of Mark, a passage many modern Bibles mark with a textual note. Read it alongside the wider New Testament rather than using it alone to build a practice.
33. Matthew 4:10
“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
34. Matthew 6:13
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
35. Matthew 10:1
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”
36. Matthew 12:43-45
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.”
37. Matthew 16:23
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
38. Mark 16:17
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.”
39. Luke 10:17
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
40. Luke 11:20
“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”
41. Acts 5:16
“There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.”
42. Acts 8:7
“For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.”
43. Acts 16:18
“And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
Standing firm through faith and obedience
These passages call believers to trust Christ, resist temptation, and live faithfully. Ephesians 4:27 follows teaching about anger, showing how ordinary conduct matters. First John 4:4 appears in a discussion of discerning true and false teaching. Confidence in Christ should produce humility and discernment.
44. Romans 8:38-39
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
45. 1 Corinthians 10:20-21
“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”
46. 2 Corinthians 6:15-16
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
47. Ephesians 4:27
“Neither give place to the devil.”
48. Ephesians 6:10-12
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
49. Ephesians 6:16
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
50. James 2:19
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
51. James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
52. 1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
53. 1 John 3:8
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
54. 1 John 4:4
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
55. 1 John 5:18
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”
56. Jude 1:6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
57. Jude 1:9
“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
Faithfulness and God’s final victory
Revelation uses apocalyptic imagery and includes suffering as well as victory. Revelation 2:10 calls believers to faithfulness even under persecution. These passages point toward God’s final judgment and restoration; they are not formulas for controlling events or identifying supposed enemies today.
58. Revelation 2:10
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
59. Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
60. Revelation 16:14
“For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
61. Revelation 18:2
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”
62. Revelation 20:10
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
63. Revelation 20:15
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
64. Revelation 22:14-15
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
How to pray for protection without feeding fear
Begin with the character of God rather than speculation about unseen threats. Read James 4:7 in the wider passage, confess anything you need to change, and ask for strength to act faithfully. You can also pray the request Jesus taught in Matthew 6:13: deliver us from evil.
Stay connected to a caring church community. If fear is disrupting your sleep, relationships, or daily life, reach out for appropriate support rather than repeatedly searching for signs of spiritual danger.
A prayer to make these Scriptures personal
Lord Jesus, help me rest in your care. Guard my thoughts from fear, guide me in truth, and strengthen me to resist temptation. Give me discernment, humility, and trusted people who will support me. Let my home reflect your peace and my choices reflect your love. Amen.
Is there one verse that automatically keeps evil away?
Scripture does not present a verse as a charm or a guaranteed ritual. It calls us to trust God, follow Christ, pray, and stand firm in faith. The purpose of reading these passages is to understand and live their message.
You can continue with prayers for protection from enemies and prayers to God for help.
Adapted and expanded from the original Bible Verses Addict article for The Pray Warrior.