Bible Verses for Anger
Anger is a natural human response when we’re feeling hurt, criticized, or wronged. We all have times with these feelings – that’s why it’s so important that we know what God tells us in Bible verses for anger.
Even though anger is a natural emotion, it still matters what we do when we feel angry. Anger often results in emotion filled words that can’t be unsaid or actions that can’t be undone.
Looking to Scripture for anger, we see that God encourages us to be slow to anger and full of compassion.
When we allow anger, or any sin to take over, we lose self-control and stray further away from a close relationship with God. When we follow His guidance, we grow closer to a loving, blessed relationship with our God.
May we grow in wisdom and love as we learn more from The Bible.
Bible Quotes about Anger
Anger in the Bible
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
It’s part of life to feel anger from time to time. Even when we feel this emotion, we don’t have to choose to sin. We can choose to have self-control.
Misunderstandings can arise between people on a regular basis. It is important to remember that it is possible to have discussions without getting frustrated or attacking each other. Difficult conversations do not need to lead to heated arguments if we can all accept with grace the differences of opinion that exist between us.
We should strive for understanding and peaceful dialogue, reflecting on these Bible verses about anger and always pursuing holy relationships in our daily lives. Let’s not “give the devil a foothold” in our lives.
Proverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
People with understanding control their anger;
a hot temper shows great foolishness.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
Proverbs 14:29 advises us to remain calm and patient in difficult times. This advice can be especially useful when things seem overwhelming or out of our control.
Instead of becoming angry and giving up, we should shift our focus towards solutions that can help alleviate stress in our lives. By responding calmly and thoughtfully to challenging situations, we are more likely to make better decisions that will lead us towards success.
In addition, maintaining a sense of poise and composure shows others around us that we are mature enough to handle adversity without getting overly emotional.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember the wise words of this proverb so that we can manage difficult circumstances with God’s wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heart[a] of fools.
It’s important that we aren’t easily provoked. We can be slow to anger, having self-control when situations are difficult or frustrating.
When we exhibit self-control in difficult situations, we are being a light to the dark world. We are reflecting how God is with us, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Let us use these wise words from Ecclesiastes to not choose foolish, childish behavior, but instead choose the wisdom God gave us in His word.
James 1:19-20
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
As these Bible verses about anger say, we can “produce the righteousness that God desires” by being “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
A goal for Christians is to grow closer in relationship to God. If we want to love and serve Him with our lives, we can heed this wisdom.
We should be good listeners, really hearing what someone is saying and trying our best to understand. This helps us to speak slowly. These things will help us to not be angry when the circumstance doesn’t require it.
Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.
Don’t befriend angry people
or associate with hot-tempered people,
25 or you will learn to be like them
and endanger your soul.
Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
Proverbs 22 encourages believers to not be close friends with someone who is easily angered. When we spend our time with someone like this on a regular basis, we can also have these same emotions.
If at all possible, avoid spending too much time with someone with little wisdom and self-control. It’s important to spend time with people who exhibit Godly characteristics instead.
Psalm 37:8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Psalm 37:8 is an important reminder to all of us that we should remain patient even in times of distress. Patience yields rewards above and beyond what our initial expectations might be.
Every day, we are presented with experiences that challenge our patience – from stressful work situations, to disruptions in plans, to long lines at the grocery store. The struggle to remain calm and keep our focus while we wait can be difficult, but with practice and God’s peace it can become easier.
By keeping sight of the promise found in Psalm 37:8, we can reward ourselves by taking a moment to step back and practice true patience – something that will lead us closer to achieving the ultimate goals that God has for us.
Proverbs 14:17
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
Short-tempered people do foolish things,
and schemers are hated.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
Proverbs 14:17 states that a quick-tempered person practices foolishness and is a sign of instability.
Many people interpret a short temper as indicating someone who cannot handle stress or difficult situations, making them seem less reliable to those around them. It is important to note however, that it is possible to control one’s emotions and reactions, regardless of the situation they may face.
Being mindful of this proverb and taking steps to remain calm during trying times is not only beneficial for maintaining relationships with others but it can also aid in increasing overall mental health and wellbeing.
Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matthew 5:22 from the New Testament is a powerful reminder that we should strive to keep our words and thoughts in check. This scripture emphasizes the consequences of being hateful or taking offense, and it encourages us to approach others with love and understanding, regardless of how we may feel about them.
We should be conscious of what we say and the tone we take when speaking, as our words can hurt people in ways that are difficult to repair.
By bridging gaps between people who aren’t necessarily fond of each other, positive conversations can slowly but surely create an atmosphere of peace and harmony – something this scripture desperately wants us to achieve.
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare.
A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The bible verse of Proverbs 15:1 tells us that “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger”. This is a useful lesson to remember in our daily interactions, as how we communicate with one another can have a big impact.
When faced with conflict, it is important to choose our words carefully and speak kindly. Harsh and angry words can fuel an argument, while softer tones can help de-escalate the situation and lead to communication that is productive and respectful.
Along with this message, Proverbs 15:1 encourages us to be mindful of the power of our actions, both in regards to what we say as well as how we behave.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Paul’s words challenge us to let go of our anger and bitterness and instead choose compassion and understanding towards others. By doing so, we not only find healing for ourselves but also invite others to experience the same transformative power of forgiveness.
It’s a challenging practice, but one that ultimately leads to greater peace, joy, and love in our daily lives.
We can, instead, be kind and compassionate as we think about what the other person is going through rather than just our own feelings.
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
Paul recognized the power of prayer and the need for a pure heart and mind when communicating with God.
By emphasizing the importance of lifting up holy hands, he reminds us to approach God with a reverence and humility that acknowledges His sovereignty. Furthermore, Paul’s admonition against anger and quarreling highlights the negative impact that unresolved conflict can have on our ability to communicate with God effectively.
Ultimately, 1 Timothy 2 reminds us to approach prayer with a pure heart and mind, free from anger and strife, while acknowledging God’s ultimate authority in our lives.
Psalm 37:8-9
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
The Bible has many verses about anger, including Psalm 37:8-9. This powerful passage encourages us to refrain from anger and to turn away from wrath.
It reminds us that anger only leads to harm and that those who are patient and gentle will inherit the land.
Being able to control our anger is not always easy, but with God’s help, we can learn to respond to difficult situations with grace and patience. As we strive to live in obedience to His Word, we can become better examples of Christ’s love to those around us.
Psalm 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
But you, O Lord,
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15 is a testament to the loving and just nature of our God. It reminds us that even when we stray from His path, He remains patient and slow to anger.
We have a God who chooses to respond with grace and mercy.
This verse should serve as a reminder to us all to extend the same kindness to those around us, even when it may be difficult. As we seek to live a life that reflects God’s character, let us remember to be slow to anger and quick to show love and forgiveness to those around us.
May these Bible verses for anger help you set your mind right and bless your life abundantly.