Anger is a tough emotion to face without proper coping tools. Many of us have experienced anger and turned to negative behaviors we witnessed growing up to express it or held it in causing ourselves symptoms of anxiety and depression. Neither way is healthy, but people who have difficulty controlling their anger may find solace in turning to their faith to learn how to cope. For Christians or anyone interested in the faith, bible verses can offer ideas for how to cope with and overcome anger.
General Bible Verses About Anger
Humans can experience anger in many different forms and situations. Bible verses cover most of these experiences and offer ways to cope through stories and commandments. The verses below tackle the topic with direct instructions on how to handle this tough secondary emotion.
1. 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.”
2. Psalm 37:8
“Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.”
3. James 1:19-20
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
4. Proverbs 14:17
“People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.”
5. Romans 12:21
“Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
Bible Verses about Confronting Anger in Yourself and Others
Getting control of anger can seem nearly impossible in the heat of the moment. Your heart and thoughts are racing and tunnel vision can easily set in. Still, learning ways to control one’s anger is important for functioning in the world. These verses give insight from the Bible about why controlling one’s anger is important and some tips on how to manage anger.
6. 2 Timothy 2:23-25
“But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels. As the Lord’s servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth.”
7. Ecclesiastes 10:4
“If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.”
8. Leviticus 19:17-18
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
9. 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 the hell of fire.”
10. 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.”
Bible Verses About Being Slow to Anger
An overarching theme in the Bible is to be slow to anger, but what exactly does this mean? The verses below acknowledge the fact that anger is a normal emotion that humans experience by asking us to be slow to anger, but not asking us not to experience anger at all. Instead these verses say being slow to anger means you are wise, you are a person with self-control and you are righteous in God’s eyes.
11. Proverbs 19:11
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
12. 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.”
13. Proverbs 16:32
“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.”
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Bible Verses Uncontrolled Anger
People who have trouble controlling anger may experience an almost “out of body” experience where they lose sight of reality and let their anger take control over their actions and emotions. This uncontrolled anger can lead people to act in ways that hurt themselves and others. They often come to regret these actions. Holding onto the Bible verses below in the moment of anger can help stop anger in its tracks and remember a greater purpose than the emotion you’re feeling.
15. Proverbs 14:17
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
16. Proverbs 29:11
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
17. Proverbs 16:32
“ Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
Bible Verses About God’s Anger
The Bible often uses stories about people and God to shed light on aspects of human nature. Though slow to anger, God showcases his wrath in many instances throughout the Bible making it clear what is far from acceptable to him. Still, his slowness to reach this level of anger can serve as a lesson for humans in how to act in our everyday lives.
18. Psalm 103:8
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
19. Numbers 11:1
“And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.”
20. Deuteronomy 32:11-12
“They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
Get a Copy of the Bible
While you gather Bible verses to help cope with anger, keep in mind that there are many types of Bibles that will allow you to work through anger in a way that best suits your needs. There are some with journaling space included, others with illustrations and more traditional Bible styles that allow you to explore and discover God’s word closer to its original form.
A few bible types include:
How a Therapist Can Help With Anger
While bible verses can be inspirational and offer comfort, they’re not a replacement for professional help for dealing with pent-up anger or for those in need of anger management therapy. If you or a loved one is dealing with anger, seeking therapy can help you adhere to the teachings of the Bible verses above and also give you new ways and perspectives for dealing with anger. Check out the best online therapy options and our online therapist directory to find a therapist who can help you work through this challenging issue.
Bible Verses About Anger & How to Control It Infographics
