Bible Verses About New Beginnings

With God, every ending can become a beginning. These verses about new beginnings promise fresh mercy and a clean start.

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” — Isaiah 43:18 (KJV)

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old — the instruction immediately precedes the promise of a new thing. Forgetting is asked for first.

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” — Revelation 21:5 (KJV)

Behold, I make all things new — one of the few times in Revelation that God speaks directly. The next clause tells John to write it down because it is faithful and true.

“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:” — Ezekiel 11:19 (KJV)

I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you — promised to exiles whose old arrangement had failed completely. The stony heart is removed rather than softened.

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” — Psalm 40:3 (KJV)

He hath put a new song in my mouth — the psalm has just described being lifted out of a pit. The song is described as given, not composed.

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” — Isaiah 42:9 (KJV)

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Announcement precedes evidence.

“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” — Job 8:7 (KJV)

Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase — spoken by one of Job's friends, whose counsel was largely wrong but whose proverb was sound. The book lets both stand.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” — Joel 2:25 (KJV)

I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten — restoration of time rather than of property. It is addressed to people who had lost whole seasons.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth — the first sentence establishes that beginnings are something God does. Everything after is a variation.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4 (KJV)

Like as Christ was raised up from the dead, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Newness is tied to a burial, which is the image baptism uses.

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” — Hebrews 8:13 (KJV)

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. The logic is that naming something new dates what preceded it.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” — Isaiah 65:17 (KJV)

I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered. The scale of the promise is total rather than personal.

“And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.” — Luke 5:37-38 (KJV)

New wine must be put into new bottles — said when asked why his disciples did not fast. The image concedes that new things break old containers.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” — Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life. The choice is offered to a generation about to start over in a new land.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” — Philippians 3:13 (KJV)

Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Paul says it having just listed his own credentials and called them loss.

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” — Proverbs 4:18 (KJV)

The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The image is of dawn rather than a switch.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV)

Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Renewal is described as daily rather than once, which fits a beginning that has to be repeated.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about new beginnings?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on new beginnings: Isaiah 43:18, Revelation 21:5, Ezekiel 11:19, Psalm 40:3, Isaiah 42:9, Job 8:7, Joel 2:25, Genesis 1:1, Romans 6:4, Hebrews 8:13, Isaiah 65:17, Luke 5:37-38, Deuteronomy 30:19, Philippians 3:13…

What is a good Bible verse about new beginnings?

Isaiah 43:18 is the passage most often quoted on new beginnings, with Revelation 21:5 and Ezekiel 11:19 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these new beginnings verses?

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