Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5789 anger  »  5791 anger, human

Human anger arises for a number of reasons, some of which are acceptable and others which are not. Scripture stresses the potentially destructive aspects of human anger and urges moderation.

Reasons for human anger

Jealousy

Genesis 4:4-5 See also 1 Samuel 17:28; Samuel 18:8; 1 Kings 21:4; Luke 15:28

Pride

Jonah 4:1 See also 2 Samuel 3:8; Samuel 6:8; 2 Kings 5:11; 2 Chronicles 26:19

The truth

2 Chronicles 16:10 Hanani had prophesied against the king. See also Numbers 24:10; Jeremiah 37:15

Human anger is sometimes justified

Exodus 32:19 See also Exodus 11:8; Exodus 16:20; Numbers 16:15; Leviticus 10:16; 1 Samuel 11:6; Samuel 20:34; 2 Samuel 12:5; Nehemiah 5:6; Mark 3:5; Luke 14:21

Results of human anger

Strife

Genesis 4:8 See also 1 Samuel 20:30; Psalm 124:2-3; Proverbs 29:22; Proverbs 30:33

God's judgment

Matthew 5:22 See also Genesis 49:5-7

Sin

James 1:20 See also Psalm 4:4; Proverbs 14:17; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:26

Dealing with anger

Becoming slow to anger

1 Corinthians 13:5 See also Ecclesiastes 7:9; Titus 1:7; James 1:19

Not taking revenge

Romans 12:19

Renouncing anger

Ephesians 4:31 See also Psalm 37:8; Colossians 3:8; 1 Timothy 2:8

See also

5359  justice
5494  revenge
5927  resentment
6020  sin
6666  grace
6686  mercy
8773  jealousy
8802  pride
9210  judgment, God's