What Does The Bible Say About Aggression? (35 Bible Verses)
Aggression—whether physical, verbal, or emotional—can cause harm and pain, but what does the Bible say about it? Let’s delve into scripture to uncover the principles of love, self-control, and forgiveness that guide us in addressing aggression with grace and humility, seeking reconciliation and healing in all our relationships.
What Does The Bible Say About Aggression
1. Proverbs 14:29 – The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
2. Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
3. Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
4. James 1:19-20 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
5. Proverbs 16:32 – Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
6. Colossians 3:8 – But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
7. Proverbs 29:22 – A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
“A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.”
8. Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.
“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”
9. Matthew 5:22 – But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
10. Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
11. Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
12. Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
13. Proverbs 22:24-25 – Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
14. Proverbs 15:18 – A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
15. Proverbs 19:19 – A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
“A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.”
16. Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
17. Psalms 37:8 – Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
18. Proverbs 14:17 – A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
19. Proverbs 29:8 – Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
“Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.”
20. Proverbs 22:24 – Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man.”
21. Proverbs 14:17 – A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
“A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”
22. Proverbs 19:19 – A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
“A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.”
23. Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
24. Colossians 3:8 – But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
25. Proverbs 27:4 – Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
“Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”
26. Galatians 5:20 – Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
“Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,”
27. Proverbs 29:9 – If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
“If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.”
28. James 3:9-10 – With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
29. Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
30. Proverbs 16:32 – Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
31. Proverbs 25:28 – A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”
32. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
33. Ecclesiastes 10:4 – If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
“If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.”
34. Ephesians 4:26-27 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
35. James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”
36. Proverbs 30:33 – For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
“For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.”
37. Romans 2:8 – But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
“But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
38. James 1:20 – For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
“For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
39. Proverbs 14:16 – One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
“One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.”
40. 1 Timothy 2:8 – I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.
“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.”
