Scripture & Rights — Zambia
What Does God Say About Domestic Violence?
What does the Bible say about domestic violence in Zambia? Scripture verses grounded in Zambian law — your rights in God's word and the law of the land.
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6 Scriptures
Zambian Law
God designed marriage and family as a place of safety and honour — not abuse. Zambia's Anti-Gender Based Violence Act 2011 gives victims concrete legal protection, including free Protection Orders from any Magistrate's Court.
What Scripture Says
Key Bible Verses
Psalm 11:5 (NIV)
“The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
God's attitude toward those who "love violence" — those for whom abuse and domination are a pattern of life — is stated with unusual force: he "hates with a passion." This is not mild disapproval. God stands firmly against the person who uses violence against a partner or family member.
Psalm 140:1–2 (NIV)
“Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.”
David prays for rescue from people who use violence as a daily weapon. This prayer — prayed by a king who understood both being hunted and being in danger — is a model for anyone living under threat of domestic violence. Praying for rescue is not a failure of faith. It is honest before God.
Proverbs 3:31 (NIV)
“Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways.”
Scripture explicitly warns against imitating or admiring those who use violence to get what they want. Staying in a relationship with a violent person, over time, can normalise violence. God says: do not choose those ways.
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
Jesus quoted this passage to define his own mission (Luke 4:18). "Release from darkness for the prisoners" and "freedom for the captives" applies to every form of captivity — including a home in which a person is trapped by fear and violence. Jesus came to set the captive free. Leaving an abusive relationship is consistent with, not contrary to, the gospel.
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Acting justly includes acting justly toward yourself. Walking humbly does not mean accepting violent treatment as deserved or God-ordained. Mercy includes extending mercy to yourself — allowing yourself to seek safety, legal protection, and healing.
Romans 13:10 (NIV)
“Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Love, by Paul's definition, does no harm. Violence is not love. Control is not love. Isolation, threats, and degradation are not love. Calling abusive behaviour "love" is a fundamental category error that contradicts the plain meaning of the New Testament.
Zambian GBV Law
The Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011 criminalises physical, sexual, economic, and emotional abuse within domestic relationships. Victims can apply for a Protection Order at any Magistrate's Court — it is free and can be granted without the abuser being present in an emergency. Police are required to respond to GBV complaints and can make arrests without a warrant.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is domestic violence a crime in Zambia?
Yes. The Anti-GBV Act 2011 makes domestic violence a criminal offence. Police must respond to complaints and have the power to arrest without a warrant. Victims are also entitled to a Protection Order from the Magistrate's Court.
Can a man be protected under the Anti-GBV Act in Zambia?
Yes. The Act is gender-neutral and covers any person experiencing domestic violence, regardless of gender.
What does the Bible say about abuse within marriage?
1 Peter 3:7 instructs husbands to treat wives 'with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life.' Abuse violates this biblical command. Seeking legal protection is not a betrayal of marriage — it is a response to a betrayal of it.
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