Quick answer
The Bible does not treat anger as simply forbidden or simply fine. It repeatedly urges people to be slow to anger, warns against anger that turns into harm, and also shows God himself being angry at injustice. The King James Version (KJV) verses below are in the public domain and are quoted in short excerpts. A commonly cited starting point is Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
Verses on being slow to anger
- Proverbs 14:29: “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” Patience is linked to understanding.
- Proverbs 16:32: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Self-control is valued above force.
- Proverbs 19:11: “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” Letting a slight go can be a mark of maturity.
- Ecclesiastes 7:9: “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
- James 1:19-20: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” The order matters: listening first leaves less room for a hasty reaction.
- Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” This verse is explored in more depth in Bible verses about harsh words.
Anger that does not become sin
Ephesians 4:26-27 (quoting the idea from Psalm 4:4) says: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Most readers take this to mean that the feeling of anger is not itself the sin, but holding it, nursing it, or acting on it can be. The instruction to deal with it before the day ends points toward resolution rather than suppression. Readers differ on how literally to take “before sunset,” but the general direction, not letting anger settle in and harden, is widely agreed.
What Jesus says about anger
In Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus goes beyond the commandment against murder to the anger behind it. The KJV reads that whoever “is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” The words “without a cause” are absent from some early manuscripts, and many modern translations leave them out, so translations differ here. Either way, Jesus treats anger toward another person as a serious matter of the heart.
In Matthew 5:23-24 he says that if you remember a brother has something against you while at the altar, you should first go and be reconciled. Worship and reconciliation are linked.
Jesus is also described as angry. In Mark 3:5 he looks around “with anger,” grieved at the hardness of people’s hearts. This is one reason many Christians distinguish between anger at wrongdoing and anger driven by pride or resentment.
Is there more than one kind of anger?
The question “What are the two types of anger according to the Bible?” is common, but the Bible does not set out a formal two-part classification. What readers usually mean is this:
- Anger that responds to injustice or sin, as in God’s anger against oppression, or Jesus’ grief and anger in Mark 3:5. Even this kind is bounded: Ephesians 4:26 and James 1:20 still warn about what human anger produces.
- Anger that grows from selfishness, pride, or the wish to retaliate. Proverbs 29:22 says “An angry man stirreth up strife,” and Colossians 3:8 lists “anger, wrath, malice” among things to put off.
Many teachers draw this line, but it is a way of organizing the verses, not a direct statement of Scripture. It is worth testing your own anger honestly, because anger can feel righteous when it is not.
What is the root of anger in the Bible?
The Bible names several sources and does not give a single answer. James 4:1 asks, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” That points to unmet desires (the chapter is studied in our James 4 Bible study questions). Proverbs 13:10 says “Only by pride cometh contention.” Other passages tie anger to fear, hurt, and injustice. A practical reading is that anger often points to something underneath, such as pride, pain, or a real wrong, and that honest reflection on that source is part of dealing with it. Proverbs 22:24-25 also warns about the influence of an angry companion: “Make no friendship with an angry man… lest thou learn his ways.”
Putting anger away
- Psalm 37:8: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
- Colossians 3:8: “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
- Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Interpreters generally read “give place unto wrath” as leaving room for God’s justice rather than taking revenge.
- Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit includes longsuffering, gentleness, and temperance (self-control). See Fruits of the Spirit Bible study for youth.
- Psalm 103:8: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” God’s patience is the model.
Wisdom is a theme running through these verses; see Bible verses about wisdom and knowledge for the wider picture.
When anger feels too big
Verses can guide and comfort, but they are not a substitute for help. If anger is damaging your relationships, or you fear you may hurt someone, speaking with a pastor, a trusted mature believer, or a qualified counselor is a sound and widely encouraged step. Scripture itself values seeking counsel (Proverbs 11:14).