# Is “Faith can move mountains” in the Bible?

> Yes. “Faith can move mountains” comes from the Bible, from Matthew 17:20.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/faith-can-move-mountains
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

Jesus says it to his disciples after they fail to heal a boy.

## The verse

> He told them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
>
> — [Matthew 17:20](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/17#20) (Lumin Translation)

The saying is not word for word. It shortens or reshapes the verse.

## What it means there

Jesus says faith as small as a mustard seed is enough. The weight is on the one trusted, not on the size of the faith.

## Also in the Bible

> Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
>
> — [Mark 11:23](https://www.lumin.faith/read/mark/11#23) (Lumin Translation)

> And if I have prophecy and know every mystery and all knowledge, and if I have faith in its fullness, enough to move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing.
>
> — [1 Corinthians 13:2](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-corinthians/13#2) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “Faith can move mountains” in the Bible?

Yes. “Faith can move mountains” comes from the Bible, from Matthew 17:20. The saying is not word for word. It shortens or reshapes the verse. Jesus says it to his disciples after they fail to heal a boy.

### Where in the Bible is “Faith can move mountains”?

In Matthew 17:20, and also Mark 11:23 and 1 Corinthians 13:2. In the Lumin Translation, Matthew 17:20 reads: “He told them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.””

### Who said “Faith can move mountains”?

Jesus says it to his disciples after they fail to heal a boy.

### What does “Faith can move mountains” mean in the Bible?

Jesus says faith as small as a mustard seed is enough. The weight is on the one trusted, not on the size of the faith.

## More

- [Is “A fly in the ointment” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-fly-in-the-ointment.md)
- [Is “A house divided against itself cannot stand” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-house-divided-against-itself-cannot-stand.md)
- [Is “A labor of love” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/a-labor-of-love.md)
- [Is “Live by the sword, die by the sword” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/live-by-the-sword-die-by-the-sword.md)
- [Is “Man does not live by bread alone” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/man-does-not-live-by-bread-alone.md)
- [Is “Out of the mouths of babes” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/out-of-the-mouths-of-babes.md)
- [Is “The salt of the earth” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-salt-of-the-earth.md)
- [Is “The straight and narrow” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-straight-and-narrow.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)