Bible Verses About Change

When life shifts beneath our feet, God does not. These verses about change anchor us in the One who stays the same.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” — Isaiah 43:19 (KJV)

Behold, I will do a new thing; shall ye not know it? — announced to a people still in exile. The question implies the new thing is easy to miss while it begins.

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” — Malachi 3:6 (KJV)

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Constancy is offered as the reason they still exist.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever — placed among warnings about strange doctrines. Sameness is presented as a standard to measure novelty against.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” — Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Conformed is pressure from outside; transformed is change from within.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)

We are changed into the same image from glory to glory — the process is described as gradual and by degrees. Beholding is what drives it.

“They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” — Psalm 102:26-27 (KJV)

They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; they all shall wax old as doth a garment. The comparison is to clothing that visibly ages.

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” — Colossians 3:9-10 (KJV)

Put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge. The change is described as ongoing rather than completed.

“Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” — Ecclesiastes 7:10 (KJV)

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? The book calls the question itself unwise.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” — 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV)

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The suddenness contrasts with every other change in Scripture.

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:” — Daniel 2:21 (KJV)

He changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings and setteth up kings. Said by a young exile about the empire he was living under.

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” — Numbers 23:19 (KJV)

God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent. Reliability is argued by contrast with human inconstancy.

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” — Isaiah 40:8 (KJV)

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Two rates of change are set side by side.

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” — Isaiah 41:13 (KJV)

I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. The help offered during upheaval is a hand rather than an explanation.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” — James 4:14 (KJV)

What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time. The observation is made against plans stated a year ahead.

“God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” — Psalm 55:19 (KJV)

Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God — an unusual line suggesting that an unchanged life can be its own hazard.

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (KJV)

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, yet I will rejoice in the LORD. The prophet lists everything that could change and then states what will not.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about change?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on change: Isaiah 43:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Psalm 102:26-27, Colossians 3:9-10, Ecclesiastes 7:10, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Daniel 2:21, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 40:8, Isaiah…

What is a good Bible verse about change?

Isaiah 43:19 is the passage most often quoted on change, with Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these change verses?

You can read all of these verses about change — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.