5 Commonly Misquoted Bible Verses Explained

We love soundbites. In a world with increasingly shorter attention spans, it’s easy to grab a Bible verse, quote it, and move on. But the problem is when we pull verses out of context, we can end up with half-truths; or worse believing something the Bible never actually says.

If you grew up in church, you probably have a few verses in your back pocket, ready to fire off in the right situation. And while memorizing Scripture is something we SHOULD do, we often forget one crucial step; understanding what the verse actually means in context.

So today, we’re breaking down five of the most misunderstood Bible verses. These verses get misquoted all the time. And #1? It’s a verse that’s been printed on coffee mugs, t-shirts, and motivational posters everywhere. But it doesn’t mean what most people think it does!

Let’s dive in.

5. Romans 8:28 – God Works All Things Together

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

You’ve probably heard this verse before, or at least someone summarize it… ’Don’t worry, God works all things for good!’ But does that mean everything in life will turn out fine? Not exactly.

A lot of people think Romans 8:28 means that no matter what happens, everything will work out in their favor. That every hardship will eventually make sense, and life will be great. But that’s not what Paul was saying.

Romans 8:28 doesn’t promise an easy life, rather it promises that God is working for our ultimate good. But here’s the key: Paul defines that ‘good’ in the very next verse: being conformed to the image of Christ.

That means sometimes, what’s ‘good’ for us might not feel good. It might be suffering, struggle, or loss. But even in those moments, God is still working.

So, does this verse mean life will always go the way we want? No. But it does mean that God is in control, even when we don’t understand.

Read more here: The Powerful Romans 8:28 Meaning (All Things Work Together For Good)

4. Matthew 7:1 – Judge Not

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Matthew 7:1

How many times have you heard someone say, ‘You’re not supposed to judge me! The Bible says so’? But… is that really what Jesus meant?

A lot of people use Matthew 7:1 as a ‘get out of jail free’ card, ‘Don’t judge me, or God will judge you!’ But if that’s what Jesus meant, we’ve got a problem because He corrected people all the time, and He told His followers to do the same.

The word ‘judge’ in this verse means ‘to condemn.’ Jesus wasn’t saying we should never call out sin, He was warning against hypocritical judgment.

Just a few verses later, Jesus actually tells us to judge rightly (Matthew 7:5). He says, ‘First, take the plank out of your own eye, THEN you can help your brother with the speck in his.’ In other words, deal with your own sin first so that you can help others, not condemn them.

So, does this verse mean Christians should never judge? No. It means we should correct each other in love, not condemnation.

Read more here: The Truth About ‘Judge Not’ (judge not lest ye be udged)

3. Jeremiah 29:11 – For I Know The Plans

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 is everywhere—from graduation speeches to Instagram posts. But here’s the problem… this verse isn’t actually about you.

A lot of people think this verse means God has a perfect, pain-free plan for their life. They believe everything will work out exactly as they hope. But when you look at the context… that’s not what’s happening at all.

Jeremiah 29:11 was written to Israelites in exile. They were captives in Babylon, and God was telling them they’d have to wait 70 more years before being freed. Most of the people hearing this promise wouldn’t even live to see it fulfilled.

So this isn’t a promise of immediate success or an easy life, it’s a reminder that even in suffering, God is still in control.

So, does this verse apply to us today? Not as a personal prosperity promise, but as a reminder that even in hard times, God is still faithful.

Read more here: The Powerful Meaning Of Jeremiah 29:11 (for i know the plans i have for you)

2. Matthew 18:20 – Where Two Or More Are Gathered

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

You’ve probably heard this in church before—‘Where two or more are gathered, God is with them.’ But what if I told you… this verse has nothing to do with small church gatherings?”

A lot of people use this verse to state that God’s presence shows up when at least two people are gathered. But what about when we are alone? The truth is that God is always with us, even when we’re alone. So what was Jesus actually talking about in this verse?

If you read the verses before it, Jesus is actually talking about church discipline and how to handle conflict between believers.

The ‘two or three’ refers to witnesses confirming a dispute, following a biblical principle from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 19:15). Jesus is saying that when His followers handle conflicts correctly, He stands with them in that decision. This is about accountability, not attendance numbers.

So, does this verse mean God only shows up when two or more are gathered? No. It’s about handling conflict biblically with Jesus’ authority.

Read more here: The Surprising Meaning Of Matthew 18:20 (where two or more are gathered)

1. Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 is everywhere, on coffee mugs, gym walls, and sports jerseys. ‘I can do all things through Christ!’ But here’s the question… does this verse really mean you can accomplish anything?”

Most people use this verse as a motivation boost. God will help them win the game, get the promotion, or achieve their dreams. But that’s NOT what Paul was talking about.

Paul wrote this while sitting in a prison cell. He wasn’t talking about achieving worldly success, he was talking about enduring suffering.

In the verses before, he says he’s learned to be content whether he has a lot or nothing, whether he’s free or in chains. ‘I can do all things through Christ’ isn’t about winning, it’s about trusting Jesus even when life is falling apart.”*

So, does this verse mean Christ will help you succeed? Not necessarily. It means He will sustain you, no matter what you’re going through.

Read more here: What Philippians 4:13 REALLY Means (I can do all things through Christ)

THE POINT 

If you only remember one thing from this post, let it be this: context is REALLY important. I would say context is king when it comes to interpreting the Bible.

Every one of these verses has been misquoted and misunderstood because people ignore what’s actually being said around them. And when we take Scripture out of context, we can make the Bible say anything we want. It’s dangerous.

But here’s the good news… understanding context isn’t hard. It just takes a few extra minutes to read what comes before and after a verse and that small step can completely change how we understand God’s Word.

So the next time you read your Bible, slow down. Pay attention to the full passage. Don’t settle for a one-sentence soundbite because context tells the whole story.