Perhaps you’ve heard the saying “Satan is the author of confusion.” This statement originates from 1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV, which reads “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” My Pentecostal friends call this affliction the “spirit of confusion.” Yet, the Bible shows us times when God caused or allowed confusion. Look at these Bible verses about confusion or being confused.
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A modern definition of confusion means Impaired orientation with respect to time, place, or person; a disturbed mental state. With this definition of confusion, we see how it might lead to personal or perceived dangers. Nobody wants to feel confused!
In the original Greek language (G181) the 1 Corinthians 14:33 word confusion means instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion. So we can affirm the verse to mean:
God is not the author of …instability.
God is not the author of … disorder.
God is not the author of …disturbance.
When you find a verse that helps you, open your Bible and look at the surrounding text. Then look for the original audience, cultural events, and full understanding. Grab your favorite commentary to dig deeper! When you feel confusion, the Bible is your source of knowledge.
Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. (Genesis 11:7-8 NIV)
That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:9 NIV)
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. (Psalm 55:9 NIV)
Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ (Exodus 14:3 NIV)
“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. (Exodus 23:27 NIV)
They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused. For now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid. (Job 6:20-21 NKJV)
But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 7:23 NIV)
The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him. (Deuteronomy 28:20 NIV)
The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart. (Deuteronomy 28:28 NKJV)
The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. (Deuteronomy 28:28 NIV)
Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. (1 Samuel 14:20 NIV)
May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. (Psalm 35:26 NIV)
May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. (Psalm 40:14 NIV)
May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. (Psalm 40:14 NIV)
Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. (Psalm 55:9 NLT)
You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion. (Psalm 60:3 NKJV)
Let them be ashamed and confounded. Who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused Who desire my hurt. (Psalm 70:2 NKJV)
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion. (Psalm 71:24 NIV)
I look but there is no one — no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them. See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion. (Isaiah 41:28-29 NIV)
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isaiah 61:7 NKJV)
O infamous city, filled with confusion, you will be mocked by people far and near. (Ezekiel 22:5 NLT)
The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. (Micah 7:4-5 NIV)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36 NLT)
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!” (Luke 1:29-30 NLT)
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (Acts 2:6 NKJV)
The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. (Acts 19:32 NIV)
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV)
Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:7 NIV)
I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. (Galatians 5:10 NIV)
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. (Romans 1:21-22 NLT)
With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. (Ephesians 4:17 NLT)
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16 NKJV)
Bible Copyrights Used in This Article
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
CHRISTINE ABRAHAM is a Writer Redeemed by Christ. Lifetime Bible Reader. Coffee Drinker. Beach Walker. Mother of Girls. Bible Teacher. Founder at Bible Café™ Ministries.
