Anger is a complex emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. The Bible has much to say about anger, offering wisdom and instructions on how to deal with this difficult feeling in a godly way. Here is an extensive look at Bible verses about anger.
Verses about the dangers of anger and being slow to anger
The Bible frequently warns about the dangers of uncontrolled anger and encourages believers to be slow to anger. Anger that is not properly dealt with can lead to sin.
Proverbs 14:17 – “A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.” This verse warns that acting in anger leads to foolish behavior.
Proverbs 14:29 – “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Patience demonstrates wisdom, while quickness to anger shows a lack of understanding.
Proverbs 15:18 – “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Anger often escalates conflict rather than diffusing it.
Proverbs 16:32 – “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Self-control over one’s temper is praised as a greater virtue than power and strength.
Proverbs 19:11 – “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Letting go of offenses is wise and mature.
Proverbs 29:11 – “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Fools are quick to express anger, while the wise exercise restraint.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Anger is unwise and even dangerous.
James 1:19-20 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Human anger does not lead to righteous ends.
These verses advise caution when dealing with anger, warning that hasty uncontrolled anger leads to greater sin and foolishness. Anger must be properly managed.
Verses contrasting righteous and unrighteous anger
The Bible acknowledges that there can be righteous forms of anger, while condemning unrighteous anger.
Righteous anger is directed toward injustice and sin, seeks to correct wrongs in a godly way, and is controlled and carefully measured. Unrighteous anger is self-centered, uncontrolled, and leads to sinful words and actions.
Ephesians 4:26-27 – “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Righteous anger exists but should not last.
Psalm 4:4 – “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” Thoughtful anger that avoids sin is appropriate.
Proverbs 29:8 – “Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.” Mocking others stokes anger, wisdom defuses it.
Colossians 3:8 – “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” There are sinful expressions of anger to reject.
James 1:20 – “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Human anger alone leads to unrighteousness.
These verses distinguish between righteous anger that can motivate justice and sinful human anger that escalates into divisive and harmful behavior. Anger must be guided by God’s spirit.
Verses about anger management and gaining self-control
In addition to warning against harmful anger, the Bible offers positive advice for managing anger and developing self-control. Believers are called to be part of the solution in diffusing anger.
Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Gentle, thoughtful responses can calm rising tempers.
Proverbs 15:18 – “A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” Patience helps soothe disagreements.
Proverbs 16:32 – “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Controlling one’s spirit shows true strength.
Proverbs 19:11 – “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Letting go of minor offenses demonstrates wisdom.
Proverbs 25:28 – “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Self-control protects like city walls.
James 1:19 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” These habits help control anger.
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” We are called to replace anger with godly virtues.
Learning to control anger, listen carefully, forgive offenses, and answer gently takes much wisdom and self-discipline. But it is necessary for living in godly community.
Verses about the consequences of anger
The Bible starkly warns about the consequences of uncontrolled anger. Anger that grows into bitterness, rage, and violence has very destructive effects.
Psalm 37:8 – Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:18 – A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Proverbs 16:29 – A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Proverbs 27:4 – Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
Proverbs 29:22 – A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
When anger is not restrained and mastered, it breeds more anger, contention, violence, division, and other sins. Uncontrolled anger has very destructive personal and social effects that violate godly living.
Verses about replacing anger with godly virtues
The Bible teaches that godly virtues should replace and drive out sinful anger. Believers are called to replace bitterness, rage, and anger with righteousness, peace, and kindness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:12-14 – Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Galatians 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Romans 12:17-21 – Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Cultivating patience, kindness, compassion, peace, and love by the power of the Holy Spirit is the godly solution to defeating destructive anger.
Verses about God’s anger
In contrast to sinful human anger, the Bible speaks of God’s righteous anger toward wickedness. God’s anger is pure, controlled, purposeful, and always paired with mercy toward the repentant.
Psalm 7:11 – God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
Psalm 78:49 – He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.
Isaiah 13:9 – Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Jeremiah 10:10 – But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
Nahum 1:2 – The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.
John 3:36 – Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
God’s holy anger is directed against persistent sin and rebellion that is corrupting His creation. He cannot be in the presence of evil. But thankfully, God’s wrath is balanced by His mercy.
Verses about God’s mercy and forgiveness for anger
Though God is justly angered by sin, He offers mercy, forgiveness, and escape from judgment to all who repent and turn to Him. His grace checks His righteous wrath.
Psalm 103:8-9 – The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
Isaiah 48:9 – “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.
Jeremiah 18:7-8 – If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.
Jonah 4:2 – O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
Nahum 1:3 – The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Though God’s anger is stirred by human rebellion, He responds with tremendous patience, calling all to repentance and waiting to show mercy to all who turn to Him. His gracious character limits His wrath.
Verses about human forgiveness reflecting God’s mercy on anger
Since God is merciful in His anger toward us, the Bible commands His followers to humbly forgive others in their anger. We are called to reflect God’s patience and grace.
Matthew 6:14-15 – For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
James 2:13 – For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
We are called to abundant grace and forgiveness toward others who sin against us, just as God has shown abundant mercy in forgiving our sins.
Verses about resolving anger and being reconciled
The Bible offers practical guidance for resolving anger between people and being reconciled. Believers are instructed to address anger honestly but also make allowances for others’ faults.
Matthew 5:23-24 – So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 7:5 – You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 18:15 – If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
We must address the causes of anger in a humble and honest way, not Papering over issues but making allowances for others’ weaknesses as we want them to do for us. The goal is reconciliation.
Verses about praying for God’s help with anger
Finally, the Bible encourages bringing our struggle with anger to God in prayer, asking for His wisdom and strength to gain self-control and be godly. Reliance on the Holy Spirit is key.
Psalm 4:4 – Be angry, and do not sin; meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
Psalm 37:8 – Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Psalm 86:15 – But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Proverbs 16:32 – Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
James 3:13 – Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Bringing our anger honestly before God, surrendering it to Him, trusting His Spirit to empower self-control, and showing grace to others is the biblical path to overcoming sinful anger.
Conclusion
Anger is a complicated challenge faced by everyone. But the Bible offers much practical wisdom for dealing with anger in a godly way: caution against anger’s dangers, distinguish righteous from sinful anger, learn self-control, see anger’s consequences, replace it with godly virtues, resolve conflicts peacefully, and rely on God’s help. Managing anger properly is crucial for individual wellbeing and healthy community.