ESV · 90 Verses
Foundational Bible Verses Every Christian Should Memorize
Before you can guard your heart against any one struggle — anxiety, anger, lust, doubt — you need the load-bearing truths of the faith memorized cold. These are the verses that show up again and again in sermons, in counseling, and in the moments you need them most.
This list covers the gospel itself (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23), your identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the command to hide God's word in your heart (Psalm 119:11). It's the starter set behind BibleLock's Foundations pack — the first pack most people memorize.
Reading a list is step one. BibleLock turns these 90 verses into fill-in-the-blank puzzles that unlock your apps — so you actually memorize them.
Get the Foundations pack →1. John 3:16 (ESV)
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
2. Romans 3:23 (ESV)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
3. Romans 6:23 (ESV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
4. Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
5. Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
6. Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
7. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
8. Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””
9. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
10. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
11. Romans 10:9 (ESV)
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
12. 1 John 5:11–12 (ESV)
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
13. Titus 3:5–7 (ESV)
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
14. John 1:12 (ESV)
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
15. 2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV)
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
16. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
17. Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
18. John 14:6 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
19. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
20. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
21. Acts 4:12 (ESV)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””
22. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
23. Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
24. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
25. Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
26. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
27. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
28. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
29. John 10:10 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
30. Romans 1:16 (ESV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
31. John 3:16 (ESV)
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
32. Romans 3:23 (ESV)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
33. Romans 6:23 (ESV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
34. Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
35. Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
36. Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
37. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
38. Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””
39. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
40. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
41. Romans 10:9 (ESV)
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
42. 1 John 5:11–12 (ESV)
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
43. Titus 3:5–7 (ESV)
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
44. John 1:12 (ESV)
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
45. 2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV)
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
46. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
47. Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
48. John 14:6 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
49. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
50. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
51. Acts 4:12 (ESV)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””
52. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
53. Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
54. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
55. Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
56. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
57. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
58. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
59. John 10:10 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
60. Romans 1:16 (ESV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
61. John 3:16 (ESV)
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
62. Romans 3:23 (ESV)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
63. Romans 6:23 (ESV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
64. Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
65. Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
66. Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
67. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
68. Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””
69. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
70. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
71. Romans 10:9 (ESV)
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
72. 1 John 5:11–12 (ESV)
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
73. Titus 3:5–7 (ESV)
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
74. John 1:12 (ESV)
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”
75. 2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV)
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
76. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
77. Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
78. John 14:6 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
79. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
80. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
81. Acts 4:12 (ESV)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””
82. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
83. Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
84. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
85. Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
86. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
87. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
88. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
89. John 10:10 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
90. Romans 1:16 (ESV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.