Being slow to anger is a highly esteemed virtue in the Bible. The Scriptures repeatedly counsel us to refrain from acting impulsively out of anger and to exercise self-control instead.
The reasons for this are numerous, but it is primarily because anger often leads to sin and can have harmful consequences for us and those around us.
This article will explore Bible verses that encourage us to be slow to anger and cultivate patience and self-control.
Be Slow To Anger Bible Verses
1. Proverbs 14:29
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
2. 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.”
3. Proverbs 15:18
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
4. Ecclesiastes 7:9
“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”
5. Colossians 3:8
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
6. 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.”
7. 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.”
8. Proverbs 19:11
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
9. Psalm 37:8-9
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”
10. Proverbs 29:11
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
11. 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.”
12. Romans 12:17-19
“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.'”
13. 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.”
14. Proverbs 25:28
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”
15. James 3:1-2
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
The Consequences Of Anger Bible Verses
16. Proverbs 14:29
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
17. 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.”
18. Ecclesiastes 7:9
“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.”
19. Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
20. Colossians 3:8
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
21. 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.”
22. 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.”
23. Proverbs 19:11
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
24. Psalm 37:8-9
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”
25. Proverbs 29:22
“A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.”
26. 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.”
27. Proverbs 22: 24-25
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. Make no mistake, you will reap what you sow.”
28. 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. You do not have, because you do not ask.”
29. Matthew 5:21-22
“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.”
30. Proverbs 29:11
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
These verses remind us that anger can have serious consequences, both for ourselves and for those around us.
They caution us to avoid acting impulsively out of anger, and to instead cultivate patience and self-control.
By doing so, we can avoid sin and the harmful effects of our anger, and maintain healthy relationships with those around us.
God’s Patience In Bible Verses
31. 2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
32. Exodus 34:6
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
33. Psalm 103:8
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
34. Romans 2:4
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
35. Nehemiah 9:17
“They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.”
36. Psalm 145:8
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
37. Joel 2:13
“And rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”
38. Numbers 14:18
“‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'”
39. Psalm 86:15
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
40. Jonah 4:2
“And he prayed to the Lord and said, “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.”
41. Exodus 20:5-6
“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
42. Psalm 103:9-10
“He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.”
43. 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.”
44. James 5:7-8
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
45. Exodus 34:7
“keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and
Forgiveness and Reconciliation Bible Verses
46. Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
47. Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
48. 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.”
49. Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
50. Romans 12:18
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
51. 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.'”
52. Proverbs 17:9
“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”
53. James 5:16
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
54. 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.”
55. 1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
56. Galatians 6:1
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
57. Mark 11:25
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
58. Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
59. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
60. Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
These verses remind us of the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in our relationships with others.
They emphasize the need to forgive as God forgave us, to seek peace with others, and to love one another earnestly.
Through forgiveness and reconciliation, we can restore broken relationships and experience healing in our hearts.
Conclusion
The Bible consistently teaches us the importance of being slow to anger. As we have seen from the Bible verses we have explored, anger is a powerful emotion that can quickly spiral out of control if we do not exercise restraint.
Instead, we are encouraged to be patient, exercise self-control, and avoid sin.
By doing so, we can avoid the harmful consequences often accompanying anger and maintain healthy relationships with those around us.
May we all strive to cultivate these virtues in our lives and glorify God in all we do.
