What does the Bible say about kindness?
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
Kindness in the Bible is a moral quality rooted in God's own character and reproduced in His people by the Holy Spirit. It is not a feeling we muster on our own; it is a fruit the Spirit grows in us and a garment we deliberately put on as those who belong to Christ.
Kindness as fruit of the new life
In Colossians 3:12, Paul commands the believers: "Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance." The "therefore" links back to the new man created in God's image (Colossians 3:10), so kindness is not an optional accessory; it is part of the clothing of someone who has died with Christ and been raised with Him. The motive for putting it on is found in the middle of the verse: we are "God's chosen ones, holy and beloved." We practice kindness because that is who He has made us to be.
Kindness as fruit of the Spirit
The same quality is named in the classic list of the Spirit's fruit in Galatians 5:22-23: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." "Goodness" (the Greek chrestotes, often translated "kindness") is the Spirit's work in us, not a human achievement.
God's kindness as the pattern
Kindness in us answers to kindness in God. Ephesians 4:32 puts it like this: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." The standard for our kindness is the forgiveness we have received in Christ. 1 John 4:19 sums up the heart of it: "We love him, because he first loved us." Kindness flows downward from received mercy.
Kindness in everyday life
The Bible's kindness is concrete and active, not sentimental.
- Leviticus 19:34: "…the stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself."
- Proverbs 14:21: "He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he."
- Romans 12:15: "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not…" — kindness is the practical arm of love.
- Colossians 3:14: "Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection." Kindness without love is hollow; love without kindness is unreal.
Growing in kindness
Peter shows how kindness fits into a growing Christian life. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says: "…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." Kindness is one rung in a deliberate climb, and the writer promises that if these things are present and abound, the Christian "shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8).
A verse to carry
Take Colossians 3:12 with you: "Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance." Every day is another occasion to put it on again.
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 7, 2026
Scripture reveals that kindness is not merely polite temperament or natural goodwill, but a core moral attribute of God Himself. Because believers have tasted the Lord's unmerited mercy in Christ, kindness becomes the supernatural clothing of the redeemed and an essential fruit borne by the Holy Spirit. By exploring God's redemptive kindness, the biblical commands, and concrete daily practices, we learn how kindness reflects our heavenly Father to the world.
Divine Pattern
God's Rich Kindness Is the Foundation for Ours
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
It roots mutual tenderheartedness directly in the forgiving grace God showed us in Christ.
In Ephesians 4:32, the apostle Paul roots human tenderness in the heart of God: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Our call to show benevolence is never drawn from the erratic reservoir of human goodwill; it flows downstream from the inexhaustible fountain of sovereign grace. As 1 John 4:19 makes plain, we love only because He first loved us. Before we ever considered seeking Him, God initiated reconciliation toward those who were dead in trespasses and sins.
This divine pattern is woven across both testaments. In Romans 2:4, Paul confronts the self-righteous with the question of whether they presume upon the riches of God's kindness, forbearance, and patience, declaring that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance. His benevolence is not passive indulgence, but an active, redeeming force designed to melt hard hearts. Paul returns to this profound reality in Titus 3:4-5, recalling how "the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared," saving us not by any deeds of our own righteousness, but entirely according to His abundant mercy through the washing of regeneration.
The ancient covenant songs and prophecies declare the exact same divine nature. In Psalms 103:4, David blesses the Lord who redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with steadfast love and tender mercy. Through the prophet in Isaiah 54:8, the Lord promises that while His wrath was momentary, "with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you." So too in Jeremiah 31:3, Yahweh speaks tenderly to His scattered flock: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." When Paul looks ahead to eternity in Ephesians 2:7, he reveals that God's ultimate cosmic purpose in our redemption is to display the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus for ages to come.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Ephesians 4:32 | Believers are commanded to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another just as God in Christ forgave them. |
| 1 John 4:19 | Our ability to love and show grace flows entirely from the reality that God first loved us. |
| Romans 2:4 | Paul reminds readers that the riches of God's kindness, forbearance, and patience are designed to lead sinners to repentance. |
| Titus 3:4-5 | The kindness and love of God our Savior appeared to save us, not by our righteous works, but by His mercy. |
| Psalms 103:4 | The Lord crowns His people with steadfast love and tender mercy. |
| Isaiah 54:8 | With everlasting kindness the Lord will have compassion on His redeemed. |
| Jeremiah 31:3 | God has drawn His people with an everlasting love and unfailing kindness. |
| Ephesians 2:7 | God shows the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward believers in Christ. |
New Creation
Kindness Is the Required Clothing of Believers
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
It shows that kindness is intentional spiritual attire for those chosen, holy, and beloved by God.
Believers do not merely observe divine kindness from afar; they are summoned to put it on as deliberate spiritual attire. In Colossians 3:12, Scripture commands: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." Kindness is not an accidental personality trait or a mere social pleasantry; it is the visible moral uniform of the redeemed, suited to those who have been transferred out of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son.
This daily clothing is the natural outworking of our regeneration. As Colossians 3:10 explains, every Christian has put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Because the image of Christ is defined by gentle self-giving, the believer's posture toward others must mirror that same character. Paul immediately continues in Colossians 3:13, urging the church to bear with one another and forgive any complaint, establishing the cross as the absolute standard: "as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
To ensure this spiritual clothing holds firm, Paul adds in Colossians 3:14 that believers must put on love above all these virtues, for love is the perfect bond of unity that binds every grace together. A parallel plea echoes in Ephesians 4:2, where Christians are urged to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, marked by all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. The Christian community is designed to be an oasis of unearthly tenderness, demonstrating to an antagonistic world what happens when the redeemed take off the ragged garments of malice and clothe themselves in the beauty of their King.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Colossians 3:10 | The believer has put on the new self, being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the Creator. |
| Colossians 3:12 | God's chosen and holy people are commanded to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. |
| Colossians 3:13 | Followers of Christ are instructed to bear with one another and forgive grievances just as the Lord forgave them. |
| Colossians 3:14 | Love must be put on above all virtues as the perfect bond of unity. |
| Ephesians 4:2 | Believers are urged to walk with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love. |
Spiritual Growth
The Holy Spirit Cultivates Kindness Within Us
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
It identifies kindness not as a fleshly achievement, but as the supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Because genuine kindness is an attribute of God Himself, fallen human nature cannot generate it through sheer willpower or moral resolve. Scripture reveals in Galatians 5:22-23 that kindness is part of the harvest produced by God within the soul: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Where the flesh produces enmity, strife, and fits of anger, the indwelling Spirit of God cultivates a settled, gentle disposition that seeks the good of others, even when provoked.
This spiritual harvest does not encourage passive complacency; rather, it calls for diligent, prayerful cooperation with divine grace. In 2 Peter 1:5-7, the apostle Peter instructs believers to make every effort to supplement their faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, and specifically "brotherly affection"—or brotherly kindness—crowned by sacrificial love. The life of faith is an active pursuit wherein the Spirit works within us to desire and do God's good pleasure, cultivating instincts that reflect heaven rather than earth.
The urgency of this sanctifying growth is underscored in 2 Peter 1:8, where the apostle warns that if these qualities belong to you and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual fruitfulness is never measured simply by doctrinal accuracy or outward religious activity, but by whether the sharp edges of our fallen nature are being smoothed into Christlike gentleness. As believers abide in the vine, the Spirit produces this supernatural fruit, causing the fragrance of divine kindness to permeate every relationship, conversation, and trial.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Galatians 5:22-23 | The fruit produced by the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness or kindness, goodness, and faith. |
| 2 Peter 1:5-7 | Believers are instructed to make every effort to add godliness, brotherly kindness, and sacrificial love to their faith. |
| 2 Peter 1:8 | Possessing these increasing virtues keeps the follower of Christ from being ineffective or unfruitful in divine knowledge. |
Concrete Practice
Scripture Calls for Kindness in Daily Action
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
It reveals that genuine love demonstrates its presence through active patience and kindness.
Scripture never leaves kindness in the realm of abstract sentiment; it commands its demonstration across the gritty realities of everyday life. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the Holy Spirit provides the defining test of authentic godliness: love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast. Kindness is love in action, moving outward toward the vulnerable, the difficult, and the undeserving with practical aid and a gentle tongue.
This practical ethic runs through the entire canon of Scripture. The law commanded in Leviticus 19:34 that Israel must treat the resident stranger as a native and love him as oneself, remembering their own affliction in Egypt. The wisdom literature repeatedly joins practical kindness with human flourishing: Proverbs 14:21 warns that despising a neighbor is sin while blessing rests on those generous to the poor; Proverbs 3:3 urges us to bind steadfast love around our neck and write it on our heart; Proverbs 11:17 states that a man who is kind benefits himself while cruelty brings ruin; Proverbs 19:22 notes that what is desired in a person is steadfast love; and Proverbs 31:26 praises the godly woman because the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. The prophets insist on the same standard: in Micah 6:8, God requires His people to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him, while Zechariah 7:9 demands true justice and steadfast mercy.
In the New Testament, this practice reaches radical heights. Jesus commands in Luke 6:35 that we love our enemies and do good expecting nothing in return, because the Most High is kind to the ungrateful and evil. In Romans 12:15, Paul instructs believers to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice, having already commanded in Romans 12:10 to outdo one another in showing honor. When provoked, 1 Thessalonians 5:15 forbids repaying evil for evil, urging us to seek to do good always. Finally, in 2 Timothy 2:24, the Lord's servant is forbidden from quarreling and commanded to be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, manifesting the cruciform love that overcomes the world.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Leviticus 19:34 | Israel was commanded to treat the resident stranger as a native and love him as oneself. |
| Proverbs 14:21 | The proverb declares that despising one's neighbor is sin, but blessed is the one who shows mercy to the poor. |
| Romans 12:15 | Christians are exhorted to practice practical empathy by rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. |
| 1 Corinthians 13:4 | Paul explains that biblical love suffers long and is kind, refusing to envy or boast. |
| Proverbs 3:3 | Steadfast love and kindness should be bound around the neck and written on the heart. |
| Proverbs 11:17 | A man who is kind benefits his own soul, but cruelty brings trouble. |
| Proverbs 19:22 | What is desired in a person is steadfast kindness and loyalty. |
| Proverbs 31:26 | The virtuous woman speaks with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. |
| Micah 6:8 | The Lord requires His people to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. |
| Zechariah 7:9 | God commands His people to administer true justice and show steadfast kindness and mercy to one another. |
| Luke 6:35 | Believers are to love enemies and do good, because God is kind to the ungrateful and evil. |
| Romans 12:10 | Believers are commanded to love one another with brotherly affection and outdo one another in showing honor. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:15 | Believers must never repay evil for evil, but always seek to do good to everyone. |
| 2 Timothy 2:24 | The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach and patient. |
Historical Examples
Covenant Loyalty and Unexpected Mercy Shine in Scripture's Narratives
The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
2 Samuel 9:3 (NIV)
David intentionally demonstrates the 'kindness of God' to an unworthy, disabled heir of his former enemy.
In 2 Samuel 9:3, King David asks, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" This single inquiry captures biblical kindness in action: it does not wait for a worthy recipient to ask, but actively hunts for an opportunity to pour out unearned favor. In the ancient Near East, an incoming king routinely eliminated the descendants of the fallen dynasty to secure his throne. David, however, bound by covenant loyalty to Jonathan (2 Samuel 9:1), sought out Saul's house not to execute vengeance, but to extend sacrificial mercy. When Jonathan's son Mephibosheth—crippled in both feet and living in hiding—was brought before him, David declared peace, returned all of his grandfather Saul's ancestral land, and invited him to feast perpetually at the king's royal table (2 Samuel 9:7). This astonishing hospitality mirrors God's covenantal love (hesed), which welcomes the helpless and alienated into the fellowship of the King.
Such kindness repeatedly interrupts the bleakest chapters of Scripture. In Ruth 2:20, after Boaz generously provides grain and protection for Ruth the impoverished foreigner, Naomi rejoices, blessing the Lord "whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead." God’s enduring faithfulness is visibly manifested through ordinary human obedience and generosity in daily life. Centuries later, on a wind-swept Mediterranean island, Luke records in Acts 28:2 that the native inhabitants of Malta "showed us unusual kindness," immediately building a blazing fire in the freezing rain to warm Paul and his shipwrecked companions. Whether expressed through royal decrees or bundles of firewood on a storm-drenched beach, biblical kindness is active, tangible, and restorative—a living witness to the character of God.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Ruth 2:20 | Naomi praises the Lord whose steadfast kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. |
| 2 Samuel 9:1 | David seeks out any remnant of Saul's house to show kindness for Jonathan's sake. |
| 2 Samuel 9:7 | David restores Saul's land to Mephibosheth and welcomes him to eat at his royal table. |
| Acts 28:2 | The inhabitants of Malta showed unusual kindness to Paul and the shipwrecked travelers. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Leviticus | 1 · Leviticus 19:34 |
| Ruth | 1 · Ruth 2:20 |
| 2 Samuel | 2 · 2 Samuel 9:1, 2 Samuel 9:7 |
| Psalms | 1 · Psalms 103:4 |
| Proverbs | 5 · Proverbs 14:21, Proverbs 3:3, Proverbs 11:17, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 31:26 |
| Isaiah | 1 · Isaiah 54:8 |
| Jeremiah | 1 · Jeremiah 31:3 |
| Micah | 1 · Micah 6:8 |
| Zechariah | 1 · Zechariah 7:9 |
| Luke | 1 · Luke 6:35 |
| Acts | 1 · Acts 28:2 |
| Romans | 3 · Romans 2:4, Romans 12:15, Romans 12:10 |
| 1 Corinthians | 1 · 1 Corinthians 13:4 |
| Galatians | 1 · Galatians 5:22-23 |
| Ephesians | 3 · Ephesians 4:32, Ephesians 2:7, Ephesians 4:2 |
| Colossians | 4 · Colossians 3:10, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:13, Colossians 3:14 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1 · 1 Thessalonians 5:15 |
| 2 Timothy | 1 · 2 Timothy 2:24 |
| Titus | 1 · Titus 3:4-5 |
| 2 Peter | 2 · 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Peter 1:8 |
| 1 John | 1 · 1 John 4:19 |
The story in order
- God's covenant kindness to Israel (c. 587 BC) · Jeremiah 31:3 · God draws His people with everlasting love and unfailing kindness.
- Kindness leads to repentance (c. AD 55) · Romans 2:4 · God's kindness, forbearance, and patience aim to lead sinners to repent.
- The appearance of God's kindness (c. AD 65) · Titus 3:4-5 · God's kindness and love saved us by His mercy, not works.
- Kindness as fruit of the Spirit (c. AD 55) · Galatians 5:22-23 · Kindness is a fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in believers.
- Command to clothe ourselves with kindness (c. AD 60) · Colossians 3:12 · Believers are commanded to put on compassion and kindness.
- Kindness in the new self (c. AD 60) · Colossians 3:10 · The new self is renewed in knowledge after the Creator's image.
- Kindness in daily practice (c. 1400 BC) · Leviticus 19:34 · Israel commanded to love the stranger as oneself.
- David shows kindness to Mephibosheth (c. 1000 BC) · 2 Samuel 9:7 · David restores Saul's land and welcomes Mephibosheth to his table.
- Ruth finds kindness (c. 1100 BC) · Ruth 2:20 · Naomi praises God for steadfast kindness to the living and dead.
- Malta shows kindness to Paul (c. AD 60) · Acts 28:2 · The inhabitants showed unusual kindness to Paul and shipwrecked travelers.
- Love and kindness in action (c. AD 55) · 1 Corinthians 13:4 · Love is patient and kind, refusing envy or boasting.
- God's kindness to the ungrateful (c. AD 30) · Luke 6:35 · Love enemies and do good, for God is kind to the ungrateful.
God's Kindness as the Foundation for Human Kindness
| God's Kindness | Our Response | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| God crowns us with steadfast love and tender mercy. | Psalms 103:4 | Psalms 103:4 |
| God shows everlasting kindness and compassion to His redeemed. | Isaiah 54:8 | Isaiah 54:8 |
| God draws us with everlasting love and unfailing kindness. | Jeremiah 31:3 | Jeremiah 31:3 |
| God shows immeasurable riches of grace in kindness toward us. | Ephesians 2:7 | Ephesians 2:7 |
| We are to be kind and forgiving as God in Christ forgave us. | Ephesians 4:32 | Ephesians 4:32 |
| We are to clothe ourselves with compassion and kindness. | Colossians 3:12 | Colossians 3:12 |
| We are to bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave us. | Colossians 3:13 | Colossians 3:13 |
| We are to love and do good because God is kind to the ungrateful. | Luke 6:35 | Luke 6:35 |
The Fruit of the Spirit
| Virtue | Description | Reference | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love | The foundational fruit of the Spirit. | Galatians 5:22 | Galatians 5:22 |
| Kindness (Gentleness) | A manifestation of the Spirit's work. | Galatians 5:22 | Galatians 5:22 |
| Goodness | Righteous character and action. | Galatians 5:22 | Galatians 5:22 |
| Faith | Trust and faithfulness. | Galatians 5:23 | Galatians 5:23 |
| Brotherly Kindness | Adding this virtue to faith. | 2 Peter 1:7 | 2 Peter 1:7 |
Kindness in Action
| Command/Exhortation | Description | Reference | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treat the stranger as a native | Love him as yourself. | Leviticus 19:34 | Leviticus 19:34 |
| Show mercy to the poor | Blessed is the one who does. | Proverbs 14:21 | Proverbs 14:21 |
| Rejoice with those who rejoice | Weep with those who weep. | Romans 12:15 | Romans 12:15 |
| Love one another | With brotherly affection, outdo in honor. | Romans 12:10 | Romans 12:10 |
| Do good to everyone | Never repay evil for evil. | 1 Thessalonians 5:15 | 1 Thessalonians 5:15 |
| Be kind to everyone | Able to teach and patient. | 2 Timothy 2:24 | 2 Timothy 2:24 |
| Do justice, love kindness | Walk humbly with God. | Micah 6:8 | Micah 6:8 |
| Show steadfast kindness and mercy | Administer true justice. | Zechariah 7:9 | Zechariah 7:9 |
Key words
- Kindness (ḥesed (Hebrew), chrestos (Greek))
- A benevolent disposition and action towards others, reflecting God's own character. · Psalms 103:4
- Tenderhearted (rĕḥāmîm (Hebrew), oiktirmos (Greek))
- Showing compassion and sympathy, moved by the suffering of others. · Psalms 103:4
- Forgiveness (nasa' (Hebrew), aphiēmi (Greek))
- The act of pardoning an offense, releasing the offender from deserved punishment. · Ephesians 4:32
- Love (ahab (Hebrew), agape (Greek))
- A deep affection and commitment, demonstrated through action and sacrifice. · 1 John 4:19
- Mercy (ḥesed (Hebrew), eleos (Greek))
- Compassion or kindness shown to someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. · Titus 3:4-5
- Fruit of the Spirit (karpos (Greek))
- The supernatural qualities produced in a believer's life by the Holy Spirit. · Galatians 5:22-23
- Steadfast Love (ḥesed (Hebrew))
- Unfailing, loyal, and enduring love and kindness. · Proverbs 3:3
Christian kindness is both an undeserved gift received from God and a deliberate daily garment put on by faith. As the Holy Spirit produces His fruit within us, our gentle, compassionate deeds bear witness to the transforming grace of Christ. May we walk each day tenderhearted and forgiving, shining as holy and beloved children of our benevolent Lord.
34 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Ephesians 4:32
- 1 John 4:19
- 2 Peter 1:5-8
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Colossians 3:10