Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5927 resentment  »  5929 resentment, against people

A sinful, emotional response to others or to circumstances, frequently caused by envy or a sense of injustice.

Causes of resentment

Unwelcome instruction

Proverbs 3:11-12 See also Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 5:12

Feelings of rejection

Genesis 4:2-5 See also Judges 8:1; Matthew 20:24

Feelings of injustice

Acts 6:1 See also Genesis 27:34; Genesis 50:15; Matthew 20:10-11; Colossians 3:21

Hard circumstances

1 Samuel 30:6 See also 1 Samuel 22:2

Disappointment with leaders

Joshua 9:18

Resentment has no place in godly living

Ephesians 4:31; Philippians 2:14 See also Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 15:10; 2 Corinthians 9:5; 2 Timothy 2:24; Hebrews 12:15; James 3:14-15; James 5:9; 1 Peter 4:9

Dealing with resentment

Not an easy task

Proverbs 18:19

Through forgiveness

Proverbs 17:9 See also Proverbs 19:11

Through God-given contentment

Philippians 4:11 See also 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews 13:5

Through conciliation

Judges 8:1-3

See also

5265  complaints
5347  injustice
5560  suffering
5835  disappointment
5839  dissatisfaction
6230  rejection
8733  envy
8765  grudge
8773  jealousy