We live in a world where libraries full of information are literally at our fingertips. But when it comes to keeping your temper in check, nothing compares to Bible verses about anger. That’s because those verses about anger reveal God’s opinion on the subject—and His opinion is the only thing that matters.
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12 Verses about Anger
You can tell that God cares a lot about our anger issues because He gave us so many Bible verses about anger in His Word. The list below includes 12 passages that relate to anger. Some of them might be familiar, and some might be new to you. All of them provide God’s perspective on keeping your cool in a super-heated world.
Proverbs 15:1
“A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”
This is one of those Bible verses about anger I quoted to my kids about a million times as they were growing up. Anger is like a fire. It continues to burn as long as it has fuel. Gentleness has a way of snuffing out the flame, while thoughtless words (and actions) increase the heat.
James 1:19-20
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”
God knows that nature abhors a vacuum, so He doesn’t just give us Scriptures about anger. He also gives us some options for doing better. James made it clear that human anger is useless. It doesn’t solve any problems, and it doesn’t contribute to the kingdom of God on earth. So, instead of jumping straight to anger, we should focus on listening and being slow to speak. Honestly, by talking less and listening more, we’d probably save ourselves a lot of headaches when it comes to our anger issues.
Colossians 3:8
“Put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.”
If you were adopted by a king, you wouldn’t be satisfied living in rags. You’d put away your old clothes and wear something that fits your new station in life. Well, as believers, we have been adopted by the King of kings. And this verse about anger challenges us to strip off our old way of living and take on His character. And while it’s not the only sin we should set aside, God certainly emphasized anger and some of its “relatives” in this passage.
Proverbs 22:24-25
“Don’t make friends with an angry person, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered one, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
If you’re like me, your parents often warned you about “the company you keep.” That’s because our friends have a tremendous influence on how we act. Even if we don’t want to be like them, peer pressure can make us do things we’d never do otherwise. This verse about anger reminds us that anger rubs off when we surround ourselves with angry people. But the contrast is also true: peaceful people can teach us how to live peaceful lives. We have to be wise and discerning about the friends we choose.
Psalm 37:8
“Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.”
Left to our own devices, humans generally will choose the worst options in life. We eat instead of exercising. We can be lazy instead of practicing diligence. And we can get angry instead of showing patience. This verse about anger reminds us that unhealthy choices bring harm—and that includes anger. If we can learn to refrain from anger and refuse to fall into the trap of rage, we’ll be better off for it.
Ephesians 4:26
“Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.”
For many believers, this is one of the more familiar verses about anger. It’s also popular because it seems to give us permission to lose our cool. We can always chalk up an outburst to “righteous indignation.” But that’s not what Paul meant in this command to the Ephesians. He was emphasizing that most anger is sinful and should be avoided. He also acknowledged that, while we may slip and get mad, our anger should come with an expiration date where forgiveness and grace take over. That’s because unresolved anger leads to bitterness. It transforms molehills into mountains and has the power to destroy relationships.
Matthew 5:23-24
“So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”
These particular verses don’t use the word “anger,” but the verse before them does. So, the context of this warning about worship suggests that having something against your brother or sister is a result of anger. Anger might seem like a victimless crime at times, but that’s not what this Scripture about anger tells us. Anger disrupts our own lives, our relationship with others, and, ultimately, our connection to God. We can’t love God unless we love others, and we can’t love others if anger is in the way.
Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus that honoring parents comes with a blessing (Ephesians 6:1-3). That blessing was as old as the law of Moses itself. But he also noted that parents have an obligation to their kids. In particular, dads have a responsibility to discipline out of love, not anger. Children get stirred to anger when they are treated with anger. Simply put, God calls us to teach our kids about Him, not to teach them how to respond to others in anger.
Proverbs 14:29
“A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.”
Patience may be a virtue, but it doesn’t come naturally to the human race. We live in a microwave society where the focus is on speed and convenience. That’s a soil where anger can grow quickly and powerfully. This verse about anger paints a contrast between the wisdom of patience (taking our time) and the foolishness of anger (letting our tempers rise quickly). One is blessed, while the other leads to trouble.
Psalm 103:8
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.”
In the ancient world, false gods were feared because people believed their anger could kindle in a heartbeat. They were considered fickle, and it was thought that the slightest insult could set them off. But, if you want to know what the one true God is like, this verse about anger shows us one aspect of our heavenly Father’s character. He is slow to anger and abounds in love. That doesn’t mean He never gets angry, but it does mean that anger never gets the best of Him. He is always in control, and His anger is always demonstrated appropriately. He is patient beyond measure because He is compassionate beyond measure. This is one of those Bible verses about anger that challenges us to follow in His steps.
Romans 12:19
“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
Anger leads us down the road of, “I don’t get mad; I get even.” While revenge may be a dish best served cold, this Scripture about anger reminds us that, from God’s perspective, vengeance is best when it’s left off the menu completely. Because we are broken and frail, we can’t administer justice properly. Our anger will always get in the way. But God always judges faithfully and justly. So, instead of getting angry, we need to leave the retribution in His hands.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”
Many Bible verses about anger focus on control issues. These verses, known as the fruit of the Spirit, show us what life is like when the Holy Spirit is in control. Even a quick scan of the list reveals that anger is nowhere to be found. In fact, it appears in the opposite list: the works of the flesh (Ephesians 5:19-21). If anger has a foothold in your life, you’re not walking with the Spirit—and you’re not living to your full potential as a man of God.
Lock them away
For me, memorizing Scripture is a tall order. And the older I get, remembering anything—much less Bible verses—gets harder and harder. But these Bible verses about anger are worth the time and effort.
Anger is such a dangerous emotion, and we can’t manage it on our own. Locking these Scriptures about anger away in our hearts and minds can be a huge help. Bringing them to mind gives you an extra weapon in your arsenal when you battle anger. So, take some time to study the verses on this list—and any other Bible verses about anger you might find in God’s Word. Then lean into them when you feel your temperature starting to rise.
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