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Bible Verses about Casting Lots

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Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 01/08/2024
Bible Verses about Casting Lots

What does the Bible say about Casting Lots?

"Casting lots" refers to a method of making decisions or determining outcomes by drawing or throwing objects (lots) and then interpreting the results based on chance. In ancient times, people used various objects, such as stones, sticks, or specially marked tokens, as lots. The process involved randomly selecting one of these objects, and the decision or outcome was considered to be guided by divine providence or fate.

The Bible mentions casting lots in several instances, and it was a method used in ancient times to make decisions or determine God's will. Here are a few references to casting lots in the Bible:

Casting Lots in the Bible

Proverbs 16:33 (NIV):

"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."

This verse suggests that even though the outcome appears to be determined by chance (casting lots into the lap), ultimately, God is in control of the decision.

Leviticus 16:8 (NIV):

"He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat."

In the context of the Day of Atonement, the high priest would cast lots to determine which of the two goats would be sacrificed to the Lord and which one would be the scapegoat, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people.

Joshua 18:10 (NIV):

"Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions."

Casting lots was used to distribute the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel.

Acts 1:26 (NIV):

"Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."

After Judas Iscariot's betrayal and death, the remaining apostles cast lots to choose a replacement, and Matthias was selected.

For related reading, learn more about what the Bible says about "Is gambling a sin?"

Discover more scripture quotes about "casting lots" in the Bible below:

Matthew 27:35

35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
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Luke 23:34

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
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Acts 1:26

26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
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1 Chronicles 24:5

5 They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
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Mark 15:24

24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
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John 19:23-24

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”So this is what the soldiers did.
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John 19:24

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”So this is what the soldiers did.
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Acts 1:21-26

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,
22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
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Jonah 1:7

7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
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Leviticus 16:8

8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.
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Psalms 22:18

18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
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Proverbs 18:18

18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
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Joshua 18:10

10 Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.
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Nehemiah 10:34

34 “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.
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Leviticus 16:8-10

8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.
9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering.
10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
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1 Chronicles 24:31

31 They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.
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1 Chronicles 26:13

13 Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
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Nehemiah 11:1

1 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns.
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Joshua 18:6

6 After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots for you in the presence of the LORD our God.
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1 Chronicles 25:8

8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.
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1 Chronicles 26:13-14

13 Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
14 The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.
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Joel 3:3

3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.
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Proverbs 16:33

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
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Numbers 26:55

55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe.
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Esther 3:7

7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
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Leviticus 19:26

26 “ ‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. “ ‘Do not practice divination or seek omens.
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John 16:7

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
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Numbers 33:54

54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
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Isaiah 53:12

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
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Luke 1:9

9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
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Proverbs 17:2

2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
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Zechariah 11:12

12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
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Zechariah 13:7

7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the LORD Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
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Isaiah 50:6

6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
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Isaiah 53:7

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
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Isaiah 53:9

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
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Psalms 110:1

1 The LORD says to my lord:“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
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Numbers 34:13

13 Moses commanded the Israelites: “Assign this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has ordered that it be given to the nine-and-a-half tribes,
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2 Timothy 1:7

God Has Not Given us a Spirit of Fear
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
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Deuteronomy 18:10

10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
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1 Samuel 14:41-42

41 Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.
42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
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Micah 2:5

5 Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORDto divide the land by lot.
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1 Chronicles 6:65

65 From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns.
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Esther 9:24

24 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction.
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1 Samuel 10:20-21

20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.
21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
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Joshua 7:14-18

14 “ ‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the LORD chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the LORD chooses shall come forward man by man.
15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’ ”
16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen.
17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen.
18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
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Deuteronomy 18:9-14

9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
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Leviticus 19:31

31 “ ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
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