27 Bible Verses About God Is Slow to Anger (With Commentary)

In a world filled with anger and impatience, the character of God shines through as a beacon of love and compassion. The Bible reassures us that God is slow to anger, overflowing with mercy and grace.

These verses remind us of God’s patient nature and His willingness to extend forgiveness. As we reflect on these verses, we are encouraged to emulate God’s patience in our relationships and interactions with others, extending grace and understanding.

Let’s delve into these verses that highlight the beautiful attribute of God’s slowness to anger and learn from His example.

Bible Verses About God Is Slow to Anger

Nehemiah 9:17

“But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

In this verse, Nehemiah acknowledges God’s character, describing Him as forgiving, gracious, compassionate, and slow to anger. It reminds us that God’s patience and mercy are extended to His people, even when they fall short.

Psalm 103:8

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

This verse echoes the psalmist’s praise for the character of God. It highlights His compassion, grace, and patience, emphasizing His slow-tempered nature as He interacts with humanity.

Exodus 34:6

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

These words were spoken by God Himself to Moses when He revealed His nature and character. They emphasize God’s compassion, grace, love, faithfulness, and patient disposition towards His people.

Jonah 4:2

“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

Jonah’s confession reflects his acknowledgment of God’s character. Despite Jonah’s initial reluctance, he acknowledges God’s nature as patient, compassionate, and loving.

Numbers 14:18

“The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.”

This verse serves as a reminder that God’s patience and love extend to forgiving sins and rebellious acts, showcasing His long-suffering nature towards His people.

Joel 2:13

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

Joel urges the people to repent and turn back to God, emphasizing His gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving nature. It highlights the invitation for genuine change and restoration through God’s mercy.

Nahum 1:3

“The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.”

While emphasizing God’s patience, this verse also underscores His righteous judgment. It reveals that, although slow to anger, God’s justice will ultimately prevail.

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Peter’s words remind us that God’s apparent delay in fulfilling His promises is rooted in His patience and desire for all to turn to Him in repentance. It displays His heart for reconciliation and salvation.

Exodus 22:24

“My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.”

This verse serves as a contrast, highlighting the potential consequences of disregarding God’s commands and provoking His anger. It underscores the importance of acknowledging and respecting His patience.

Psalm 145:8

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

This verse reinforces the psalmist’s acknowledgment of God’s character. It celebrates His graciousness, compassion, patience, and abundant love.

Nahum 1:2

“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.”

This verse highlights a different aspect of God’s character. While it acknowledges His righteous anger towards His enemies, it contrasts His slowness to anger when dealing with His people, demonstrating His patience and mercy.

Psalm 86:15

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

This verse echoes a similar sentiment expressed by the psalmist. It praises God’s compassion, grace, patience, and faithfulness, emphasizing His steadfast love for His creation.

Joel 2:14

“Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.”

This verse invites the people to turn to God in repentance and holds the hope of God’s mercy and blessing. It highlights the potential outcome of God’s slow anger—a restoration of favor and blessings.

Exodus 34:7

“Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

While emphasizing God’s patience, this verse also underscores His commitment to justice. It reveals that, though slow to anger, God will not allow sin to go unpunished, even extending the consequences to subsequent generations.

Psalm 86:5

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

The psalmist acknowledges God’s forgiveness, goodness, and abundant love, reinforcing the understanding that God’s slowness to anger is accompanied by His readiness to extend mercy.

Exodus 34:9

“Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes,” he said, “then let the Lord go with us.”

Moses’ plea for God’s presence underscores the relationship between God’s favor and His patience. It reflects an understanding that God’s slowness to anger aligns with His faithfulness and willingness to journey alongside His people.

Psalm 103:9

“He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever.”

This verse reassures the reader that God’s anger is not eternal or unending. It reminds us of His merciful nature and His willingness to relent and forgive.

Jonah 4:11

“But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

God’s compassionate concern for the people of Nineveh, despite their wickedness, is showcased in this verse. It reveals His patience and desire for their repentance rather than immediate judgment.

Nahum 1:7

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.”

This verse highlights the goodness of God and His role as a refuge for those who seek Him. It reflects His patient care and protection for those who place their trust in Him.

Psalm 145:9

“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

This verse emphasizes God’s goodness and His compassionate nature towards all of His creation. It affirms that His slowness to anger extends to His care for every living being.

Exodus 34:10

“Then the Lord said: ‘I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people, I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.’”

God’s promise to make a covenant and perform extraordinary wonders demonstrates His willingness to patiently reveal His power and love to His people. It reveals His intention to display His greatness gradually.

Psalm 78:38

“Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.”

This verse recounts God’s mercy and forgiveness towards His people despite their continuous rebellion. It emphasizes His restraint and slowness to unleash His full anger, showcasing His enduring patience.

2 Chronicles 30:9

“For if you return to the Lord, your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

This verse encourages repentance and promises God’s compassion and restoration if the people turn back to Him. It reveals His patience and readiness to show mercy even in the face of disobedience.

Joel 2:25

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.”

This verse speaks of God’s restoration and redemption. Despite the devastation caused by locusts, it promises a renewal of blessings and a repayment of what was lost, demonstrating His patient commitment to His people.

Psalm 78:72

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”

This verse speaks of King David’s leadership as a shepherd over God’s people. It highlights David’s patient and skilled guidance, reflecting God’s patient and wise governance over His chosen ones.

Jeremiah 15:15

“Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.”

Jeremiah’s plea reflects his confidence in God’s understanding and long-suffering nature. It acknowledges God’s patience and asks for His intervention and protection in the face of persecution.

Psalm 86:1

“Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”

This verse expresses a heartfelt cry for God’s attention and response. It acknowledges the psalmist’s dependence on God’s patient hearing and answers, regardless of their present circumstances.

Romans 2:4

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

Paul’s words remind us of God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience. They emphasize that His patience serves as an invitation for repentance and a redirection towards a life aligned with His will.

Exodus 34:14

“Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

This verse highlights God’s exclusivity in worship and His desire for wholehearted devotion. While it references His jealousy, it also underscores His patience in expecting His people to honor and worship only Him.

These verses illustrate God’s character as slow to anger, patient, compassionate, and forgiving. They showcase His willingness to extend mercy and give ample opportunity for repentance. Through these examples, we can gain insight into the nature of our loving and patient God.