42 Powerful Bible Verses About Anger
Anger is a natural emotion and everyone experiences it! God’s Word gives us lots of information about human anger. In this article, you will learn about why it’s actually okay to experience anger and what to do with that emotion. Additionally, you are going to find out common reasons we get angry and why sinful anger is not God’s best for His children. And, of course we will cover the best Bible verses about anger. Let’s go!
Anger is a Natural Emotion
Angry feelings are like any other emotions or feelings we experience. We are made in the image of God. This means we have emotion just like our Heavenly Father. God experiences anger and so do we. His anger is always righteous anger, whereas human anger isn’t necessarily righteous. I want to propose that anger is like any other emotion because it is a signal- anger tells us something.
Unfortunately, we have the tendency (especially in Christian circles) to label anger as bad or wrong. I want to encourage you to just notice it when you have negative emotions like anger. Once you notice anger pop up, pay attention to negative thoughts or angry thoughts. It is vital to pay attention to thoughts you are having that lead to emotions. Our thoughts directly impact our feelings. Beliefs and thoughts always come before the emotions (even though it seems like its all at once). Likewise, actions follow emotions. As you gain self awareness, those anger signals will give you some good insight into what you need to do.
The goal is to let your anger move you to positive action. Paul said in the letter to the Ephesians, “in your anger, don’t sin”. Notice he didn’t say don’t get angry and if you do stuff it deep down and ignore it. No! Let your anger move you to positive action so you don’t sin. When my anger doesn’t result in me taking positive action, I tend to grow in my anger or become bitter and resentful.
Common Reasons We Get Angry
There are many different reasons we can experience anger. We simply might be frustrated that something is getting in the way of what we wanted or planned. Sometimes we experience anger because we feel unsafe, threatened or in harm’s way. Anger can have a protective quality because it helps us to feel more powerful in some situations. If we perceive a violation toward us we also may feel our own anger flare up. Experiencing an injustice is another common source of anger. You might witness the unjust treatment of another or you might be on the receiving end of mistreatment. Anger is a natural response to being wronged. Some people have a strong reaction to perceived disrespect. Anger can come up when we feel anxiousness or a lack of control over our life.
Unmet needs can evoke anger- when we perceive we are not receiving the love, attention or security we desire. And finally, anger is sometimes a learned behavior. If we saw the adults in our lives have a difficult time managing big emotions, anger might have been the reaction. As a result, we may have learned that anger is how we manage our lives, situations and challenges we face. Again, it’s important to note that anger itself is not inherently wrong. Anger serves as a signal that something is wrong or needs attention. However, how individuals express and manage their anger has an impact on relationships and their own well being. Effective communication, self-awareness, and coping skills are essential to dealing with anger constructively. The Word of God also gives us a great deal of insight.
I want to emphasize anger can sometimes alert us to a wrong being committed against us. When I don’t address my anger through positive action, I tend to develop more symptoms such as bitterness, resentment and even unforgiveness. Please note- sometimes anger comes after a wrong has been committed against us. Anger is part of the healing journey after trauma and can take time to work through. It can take quite a bit of time for victims of abuse to work through anger. And, that’s okay. We can feel anger and still choose not to act on it in a way that is dishonoring.
That is why we are going to identiy Bible verses to calm anger.
What does the bible say about anger?
Let’s consider a biblical perspective on anger…
God sets the example for us regarding anger. He is slow to anger. And we are also instructed to be slow to anger.
Psalm 103:8 – The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
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.
Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Anger is an unavoidable emotion- we must simply notice it and let it move us to positive action. Remember, anger is an emotion and we can feel angry and choose to respond to that anger in a constructive way. Notice in the Ephesians verses below, that getting stuck in anger leads to more sin. The NIV translation actually says “foothold” instead of opportunity. A foothold means to gain a firm footing so you can progress. Not working out your anger leads to the enemy using the anger to advance his evil. I can’t emphasize enough- notice anger and address it. Don’t stuff it. Be careful not to ignore it. Anger that is not addressed properly will open the door to the enemy and his temptation to sin as a result of unaddressed anger.
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.
Why is anger management important?
When God tells us His best for us, there is protection in obedience. Anger management or constructively addressing anger issues protects us from the natural consequences of anger that is not addressed in a healthy way. When we don’t address anger in a healthy way, it actually can affect our physical health. It can lead to increased stress and high blood pressure. Anger that pours out in our words and actions as a form of malice has a devastating and sometimes irreparable affect on our relationships. It also can get in the way of resolving conflict. Stuffing anger down can lead to anxiety and depression. Uncontrolled anger can lead to boat loads of regret! Attempting to have a positive interaction or communication is impossible when anger is out of control. And finally, anger gets in the way of wise decision making.
Managing Anger Constructively is Wise
Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
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.
Proverbs 12:16 – The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.
Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
The Pain of Injustice
I’m sure you have experienced injustice or wrong doing against you. It’s impossible to live in a world that is fallen and filled with people who sin without getting hurt. When I think about injustice in my own life, it helps me to know that God knows. He has seen everything and He will deal with each offense in His own way and in His own time. It’s easy to feel enraged at deeper offenses- these are the perfect Bible verses to calm anger. God promises to deal with it, so you can let it go. The pain you have likely experienced has already taken enough from you. You can let go of anger and entrust the injustice to God- He is Righteous Judge.
Bible Verses Calm Anger About Injustice
Romans 12:17-19 – Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30 – For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 – since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…
1 Peter 2:23 – When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Proverbs 20:22 – Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Bible Verses to Calm Anger with a Gentle Answer or Silence
Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 30:32 – If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Psalm 4:4 – Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Bible Verses About Anger Uncontrolled is Foolisheness
Proverbs 14:29 – Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
Psalm 37:8 – Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Beware of the Quick-Tempered Person
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 25:28 – A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Proverbs 14:17 – A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
Proverbs 14:16 – One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
Proverbs 15:18 – A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Matthew 5:22 – 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 hell of fire.
Proverbs 19:19 – A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
Put Off Anger, Put On the Fruit of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:30-31 – 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 3:8 – But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
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.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.
Bible Verses About Anger Rooted in Pride
James 4:1-2 – What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
Psalm 37:8 – Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
James 3:14 – But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
Warnings About Anger
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.
Tips for Overcoming Anger
Notice any anger you are feeling. Don’t avoid it, suppress it or let it move you to sin. Just notice it! Get to know your own heart. Anger is intended to signal us that there is a problem we need to solve. It can actually move us to take positive action in our lives our relationships. Sometimes anger is part of a healing journey. When we have experienced deep wounds, anger helps us understand the injustice.
But if we don’t address it, it can lead to hardness of heart. When we stew in anger it gives the enemy a way to advance his cause. Refusing to constructively address anger will lead us to sin. We might act out like a foolish man and engage in acts of the flesh. The anger might move us to turn it inward and experience depression and anxiety. Ask for God’s help- He can work in and through us to address unresolved anger in a way that leads to freedom.
Wrapping Up Bible Verses About Anger
Anger is an emotion like any other emotion. Notice anger and let it move you to solve a problem or some other positive action. The wise bring their anger to God, ask for help and find they can let it go. As you read through the Bible verses about anger, I pray you feel relief, encouragement and strength in the Scriptures.
For me ,Proverbs 15:1 really rings true. Especially when you are in a heated argument. Sometimes its better to hold your tongue and walk away, even though its really hard to do so. When I was younger, I would always have to say the ‘last word’ but as I mature and with God’s strength, I’ve learned to calm down abit. Prayer has helped alot as well. Thanks for this beautifully written article!
I grew up with a father that had and still has no control over his anger and as I getting older Im seeing Im becoming like him. Your article was a very helpful read. After reading I wrote out my prayer to God and read the different scriptures. If I want to be pleasing in God’s sight I have to turn down wrath and embrace compassion, grace, and forgiveness. Thank you for sharing!!