Favorite Bible Verses from the Old Testament
David Faust reflects on why certain Bible verses become memorable, meaningful, and beloved by Christians. In this first installment, he highlights favorite passages from the Hebrew Scriptures and points readers toward the breadth, order, and inspiration of God’s Word.
- Favorite Bible verses often reveal what Christians remember, treasure, and return to for encouragement.
- Every part of Scripture is inspired and important, from Genesis to Revelation.
- The Old Testament offers enduring words about blessing, courage, justice, humility, mercy, and faithfulness.
by David Faust
Ask Christians to name their favorite Bible verses, and you’ll get predictable responses. John 3:16, the 23rd Psalm, and Romans 8:28 often come to mind. Someone might mention John 11:35 because it’s easy to memorize “Jesus wept.”
I once heard a speaker joke that his favorite verse is Exodus 16:36, which says, “An omer is one-tenth of an ephah” (New International Version). Although that verse doesn’t stir warm fuzzy feelings, the speaker pointed out, it shows there are clear, objective boundaries established by God. An omer was a person’s daily allotment of manna, and units of measurement weren’t to be treated casually and arbitrarily. An omer wasn’t a fifth or 1/100th of an ephah; it was one-tenth. God provided for his people in a fair, orderly way.
Many to Choose
What are your favorite biblical texts? With more than 23,000 verses in the Old Testament and nearly 8,000 in the New Testament, it’s hard to narrow them down. The Bible’s first verse lays the foundation for everything else: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), and its last verse underscores God’s redemptive plan: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” (Revelation 22:21). Everything in between is inspired and important. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book; but he referenced the entire canon of Hebrew Scriptures when he declared, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44).
Old Testament Excerpts
At the risk of omitting many memorable texts, here are some of my favorite quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
“Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:7 and 1:9).
“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).
“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; . . . They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (Psalm 92:12-14).
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
“But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand” (Isaiah 32:8).
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). In practical terms, this verse summarizes our response to God’s revealed LAW: Love mercy. Act justly. Walk humbly with the Lord.
Next week: Favorite New Testament verses.
Author: David Faust
David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.
