What Does the Bible Say About Righteous Anger?

James 1:19-20 ESV / 44 helpful votes

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.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 36 helpful votes

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.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 29 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Matthew 21:12-13 ESV / 26 helpful votes

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 23 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Romans 12:19 ESV / 22 helpful votes

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.”

James 1:20 ESV / 20 helpful votes

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Mark 3:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Psalm 7:11 ESV / 19 helpful votes

God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

Psalm 4:4 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 16 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 19:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

John 2:13-17 ESV / 13 helpful votes

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Proverbs 14:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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.

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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.

Mark 3:1-5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Proverbs 25:28 ESV / 10 helpful votes

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Ephesians 4:26-32 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ...

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 12:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Psalm 145:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 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.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

John 3:36 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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.

Isaiah 28:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused; to do his deed—strange is his deed! and to work his work—alien is his work!

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

Psalm 103:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Exodus 32:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

Luke 23:1-56 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” ...

Matthew 5:21-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 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. 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. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ...

Proverbs 30:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

Proverbs 19:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

James 1:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

47 Bible Verses about Righteous Anger

James 1:19-20 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 38 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 36 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 21:12-13 ESV / 26 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 26 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:19 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:20 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 3:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 7:11 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 4:4 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 2:13-17 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 3:1-5 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 25:28 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:26-32 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 145:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:36 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 28:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 103:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 32:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 23:1-56 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:21-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 30:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)