What Does the Bible Say About Gambling?
What Does the Bible Say About Gambling? The Bible doesn't mention gambling directly, but its principles about stewardship, contentment, and the love of money strongly caution against it.
Key verse: 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
The Bible doesn't mention gambling directly, but its principles about stewardship, contentment, and the love of money strongly caution against it.
The Bible doesn't mention gambling directly, but its principles about stewardship, contentment, and the love of money strongly caution against it.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." — 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
While no verse says 'thou shalt not gamble,' biblical principles clearly address the motivations behind it. 1 Timothy 6:10 warns, 'The love of money is the root of all evil.' Hebrews 13:5 commands, 'Be content with such things as ye have.' Proverbs 13:11 teaches, 'Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.' Believers are called to be wise stewards of God's resources (Matthew 25:14-30) and to provide for their families (1 Timothy 5:8). Gambling exploits the poor (Proverbs 22:16), feeds greed, and relies on chance rather than diligent work. While a small lottery ticket may seem harmless, the underlying motivations — get-rich-quick thinking, greed, and discontentment — conflict with biblical values of hard work, contentment, and trust in God's provision.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Gambling?
Biblical principles about gambling, chance, and financial stewardship.
Key Scripture References
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have."
"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Does the Bible Say About Money?
The Bible doesn't condemn money itself but warns against the love of money and teaches generosity, contentment, and wise stewardship.
What Does the Bible Say About Work?
The Bible presents work as a God-given calling, not a curse — believers are to work diligently as unto the Lord, finding purpose and dignity in honest labor.
What Does the Bible Say About Love?
The Bible defines love not as a feeling but as a sacrificial choice — modeled perfectly by God's gift of His Son.
How Do You Forgive Others According to the Bible?
Biblical forgiveness means releasing bitterness and choosing not to hold someone's offense against them — just as God in Christ forgave us.
What Is Tithing?
Tithing is the practice of giving a tenth (10%) of one's income to God, rooted in Old Testament law and reflected in New Testament generosity.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside 1 Timothy. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read 1 Timothy on day 344 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Does the Bible Say About Gambling?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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