What Does the Bible Say About Suicide?

What Does the Bible Say About Suicide?

Few topics carry the same weight of sorrow and silence as suicide. When someone takes their own life, families are left broken, communities shaken, and churches unsure of what to say. Scripture doesn’t give a chapter titled “Suicide,” but it gives us stories, commands, and—most importantly—hope in Christ that speak directly to it.

Definition and Etymology

The English word suicide comes from the Latin sui (of oneself) and caedere (to kill). The Bible never uses the word directly, but it records several accounts of people who ended their own lives. The Greek New Testament does, however, use terms such as apēxato (ἀπήξατο – “hanged himself,” Matthew 27:5, describing Judas) and apokteinō (ἀποκτείνω – “to kill”), sometimes in reflexive contexts.

Biblical Accounts of Suicide

• Abimelech (Judges 9:54)

• Samson (Judges 16:30)

• Saul (1 Samuel 31:4)

• Saul’s armor-bearer (1 Samuel 31:5)

• Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)

• Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)

• Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:5)

None are presented as examples to follow; they’re recorded with grim realism—sin, despair, and ruin. Yet even in that darkness, there’s a glimpse of grace. Samson, whose final act ended his own life as he brought down the Philistine temple (Judges 16:30), is still listed in Hebrews 11 among the heroes of faith. His inclusion doesn’t excuse the act—it reminds us that God’s mercy can reach further than human failure. For those grieving the loss of someone to suicide, Samson’s story offers a quiet hope: that salvation rests not in how life ends, but in the faithfulness of the God who redeems.

Biblical Teaching on Life and Death

Human life is sacred because it is God’s gift. We are made in His image (Genesis 1:27). The sixth commandment is clear: “You must not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Taking one’s own life is self-murder—seizing authority over life and death that belongs to God alone (cf. Deuteronomy 32:39).

Scripture also acknowledges crushing despair. Elijah prayed, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT). Job cursed his own birth (Job 3:1). Paul admitted, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure… we expected to die” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT). They didn’t take their lives, but their honesty shows that even the faithful can feel suicidal despair.

A Sober Warning: God’s Temple Must Not Be Destroyed

The New Testament gives a stark warning about destroying God’s temple. Paul writes, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NLT)

In context, Paul is warning those who tear down the church (the corporate temple). But Scripture also speaks personally: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit… You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT)

Put bluntly: destroying what God calls His holy temple—whether the church or our own bodies—is deadly serious. This is not permission for shame; it’s a wake-up call to flee self-harm and seek the God who gives life.

Misuses and Clarifications

Some traditions claim suicide automatically damns a person. The Bible never says this. Suicide is tragic and sinful, but salvation rests on Christ’s finished work, not the manner of one’s death. Jesus promises: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.” (John 10:28 NLT)

Christ, Hope, and the Gospel

The answer isn’t a rule—it’s a Person. Jesus entered our darkness, carried our sorrows, and faced death. On the cross He cried, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 NLT). Then He rose, breaking death’s grip. Paul testifies: “We… learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9 NLT). Despair says, “There’s no way out.” The gospel says, “Resurrection.”

Application

If you’re battling suicidal thoughts: cry out to God as the psalmists did, reach out to trusted believers, and remember your life has purpose in Christ. Church: draw near to the broken, listen long, speak hope, and guard God’s temple—people—with fierce love.

Conclusion

Scripture doesn’t sanitize the pain of suicide. It names it, forbids murder, warns us soberly about destroying God’s temple, and then points us to the crucified and risen Christ. In Him, death doesn’t get the last word.

Pastoral footnote: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or considering self-harm, please seek help now—call a trusted friend, your pastor, or a crisis line in your area. You are not alone.

In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline—you are not alone, and there is hope.