Self-harm

Self-harm is not named in the Bible. This page lists the verses that speak to the value of the body, God's care for the hurting, the cutting of the flesh described in Scripture, and hope.

The body is valued

• Psalm 139:13-14
  ¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.
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• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  ¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
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• Ephesians 5:29
  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.
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• Genesis 1:27
  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
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Cutting in Scripture

• Mark 5:2-5
  ²And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs. ³Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains. ⁴Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him. ⁵And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.
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• Mark 5:15
  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
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• 1 Kings 18:28
  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.
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• Leviticus 19:28
  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.
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God's care for the hurting

• Psalm 34:18
  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
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• Psalm 147:3
  He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
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• Isaiah 42:3
  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
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• Matthew 11:28-30
  ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
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• 1 Peter 5:7
  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
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Not alone

• 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.Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
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• Deuteronomy 31:8
  And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
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• Romans 8:38-39
  ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹Nor 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.neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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• Galatians 6:2
  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
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Hope

• 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.For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.
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• Romans 15:13
  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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• Psalm 42:11
  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
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• Lamentations 3:22-23
  ²²It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!
  Show context · Read Lamentations 3 →

See also

• Suicide
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hope
• Healing

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.