What Does the Bible Say About Committing Suicide?
1) Direct answer
Suicide is a sin. The Bible forbids taking life—including your own—and calls us to choose life, trust God, and “do thyself no harm.”
2) Scriptural explanation
- “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) Taking your own life is self-murder.
- “Do thyself no harm.” (Acts 16:28) The Holy Spirit stopped the jailer from suicide and led him to salvation.
- “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God… If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17; also 6:19–20) Your life and body belong to God.
- “My times are in Thy hand.” (Psalm 31:15) Life and death belong to the Lord, not to us (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Job 1:21).
- “Be not over much wicked… why shouldest thou die before thy time?” (Ecclesiastes 7:17)
- “The thief cometh… to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life.” (John 10:10) Suicide is the enemy’s voice; Jesus gives life and hope.
- God promises a way out of crushing temptation. “God… will with the temptation also make a way to escape.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- The Lord is near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), invites the weary to come to Him (Matthew 11:28), and says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Bible examples of suicide—Saul (1 Samuel 31), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), Judas (Matthew 27:5)—are all tragic and never commended. Samson’s death (Judges 16:28–30) was not an act of despair but a prayerful, God-granted act of war against Israel’s enemies; Scripture places him among the faithful (Hebrews 11:32). That’s different from taking one’s life to escape pain.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- Life is God’s gift. You see, if God gives it and numbers our days, we have no right to end it.
- Murder is forbidden, and self-murder is still murder.
- Suicide doesn’t solve the problem. While there is life, there is room for repentance, comfort, and deliverance in Jesus Christ.
- The pressure to self-harm is not the voice of the Shepherd; it is the thief. The Lord always provides a way of escape and a hand to lift you.
4) Reinforcing statement
Choose life. Call on the Name of the Lord right now. Pray, open the Bible, reach to a trusted believer, pastor, or family member, and get help immediately. God is near you, and He will make a way.
If you’re in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, seek help now:
- In the U.S.: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or visit 988lifeline.org
- Otherwise: contact your local emergency number or a local crisis hotline
You’re not alone; the Lord is with you, and help is available.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
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