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What the Bible says
What Does the Bible Say About Anger?
The Bible does not forbid all anger, but it warns us to be slow to anger, to let it go quickly, and never to let it harden into bitterness or sin.
Scripture says, be angry, and sin not. Anger itself can be righteous when it burns against injustice, as Jesus' did. But human anger easily curdles into pride, revenge, and cruelty, so we are told not to let the sun go down on it.
The path away from destructive anger is not to bury it but to bring it to God, to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and to trust Him to set right what we cannot. A soft answer turns away wrath.
Key Bible verses
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 · King James Version (public domain)
“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20 · King James Version (public domain)
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 · King James Version (public domain)
“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”
Proverbs 29:11 · King James Version (public domain)
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
Colossians 3:8 · King James Version (public domain)
How this points to Jesus
Jesus felt anger, at hardness of heart and at the exploitation of the weak, yet He never sinned. On the cross He absorbed the righteous anger of God against sin so that we could receive mercy. His Spirit grows in us a patience that is slow to anger and quick to forgive.