Anger

Across the canon

In the King James text (478 verses)

Every verse where Scripture speaks of anger, gathered by word. Quoted below: a spread across the whole canon, Old Testament and New — never more than two from any one book. The complete list is one click beneath them.

1. Genesis 4:5

   But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:52 voices

   “In the case of Cain his wickedness did not begin when he killed his brother. For even before that God, who knows the heart, had no regard for Cain and his sacrifice. But his baseness was made evident when he killed Abel.

   “Unto Cain - As being unconscious of his sinfulness, and consequently unhumbled, and to his offering, as not being accompanied, as Abel’s was, with faith and a sacrifice for sin, he had not respect - He could not, consistently with his holiness and justice, approve of the one or receive the other. Of the manner in which God testified his approbation we are not informed; it was probably, as in the case of Elijah, by sending down fire from heaven, and consuming the sacrifice.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 4:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Judges 2:12

   And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.

   ›Commentary on Judges 2:122 voices

   “An attentive consideration of them, therefore, is of the greatest importance to a right understanding of the strange and varying phases of Israelitish history, from the death of Joshua till the establishment of the monarchy. served Baalim--The plural is used to include all the gods of the country.

   “As long as a people serves God, they are not "delivered into the hands of plunderers." But when they "abandon the Lord" and begin to serve their own passions, then it is said of them that "God gave them over to shameful passions" and, again, "He gave them over to a reprobate mind, that they would do unsuitable things." Why? Because, he says, "they were filled with every iniquity, wickedness, fornication, greed" and all other evils.

   Everything gathered on Judges 2:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 1 Chronicles 13:10

   And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 13:101 voice

   “David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah--(See on 2Sa 6:1-11). whose name is called on it--rather, "who is worshipped there" (2Sa 6:2).

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 13:10→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Psalms 2:5

   Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 2:52 voices

   “These are words of destruction that are pronounced in anger. Moreover, the evils that God had said he was going to inflict, he promises that he will withdraw if the listeners will become penitent. God in his anger spoke through Jonah to the Ninevites, and since they repented in ash and sackcloth, they endured nothing of those things about which they had heard. Actually, God knew beforehand when he sent Jonah that they were going to repent if he sent Jonah for their deliverance. Right now he also is speaking deliverance to those sinners who are in his wrath.

   “Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,.... Or, "and he shall speak to them"; so Noldius: that is, the Lord that sits in the heavens, and laughs, and has the Heathen, the people, the kings and rulers in derision, shall not only silently despise their furious and concerted opposition to him and his Messiah, but shall at last speak out unto them, not in his word, but in his providences; and not in love, as to his own people, when he chastises them, but in great wrath, inflicting severe and just punishment.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 2:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Lamentations 1:12

   Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

   ›Commentary on Lamentations 1:122 voices

   “The pathetic appeal of Jerusalem, not only to her neighbors, but even to the strangers "passing by," as her sorrow is such as should excite the compassion even of those unconnected with her. She here prefigures Christ, whom the language is prophetically made to suit, more than Jerusalem. Compare Israel, that is, Messiah, Isa 49:3.

   “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? - The desolations and distress brought upon this city and its inhabitants had scarcely any parallel. Excessive abuse of God’s accumulated mercies calls for singular and exemplary punishment.

   Everything gathered on Lamentations 1:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Amos 1:11

   Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

   ›Commentary on Amos 1:112 voices

   “(Ver. 11 and following) Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke my judgment; Because he pursued his brother with the sword, and violated all pity, and his anger tore at them constantly, and he kept his wrath to the end. I will send fire into Teman, and it will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.

   “Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Edom,.... Or the Edomites, the posterity of Esau, whose name was Edom, so called from the red pottage he sold his birthright for to his brother Jacob: and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; See Gill on Amo 1:

   Everything gathered on Amos 1:11→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Zechariah 7:12

   Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

   ›Commentary on Zechariah 7:122 voices

   “Lord . . . sent in Spirit by . . . prophets--that is, sent by the former prophets inspired with His Spirit. therefore . . . great wrath-- (2Ch 36:16). As they pushed from them the yoke of obedience, God laid on them the yoke of oppression. As they made their heart hard as adamant, God brake their hard hearts with judgments.

   “(Verses 8 onwards) And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear. They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets.

   Everything gathered on Zechariah 7:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Matthew 2:16

   Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 2:162 voices

   “But (we hold the contrary): for Christ, by "accepting praise out of the mouth of babes and sucklings," has declared that neither childhood nor infancy is without sensibility, -the former of which states, when meeting Him with approving shouts, proved its ability to offer Him testimony; while the other, by being slaughtered, for His sake of course, knew what violence meant.

   “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked,.... Herod, having waited a proper time for the return of the wise men, and they not coming, concluded he was tricked by them; though, no doubt, when they promised to return, and bring him word how things were, they seriously meant and designed a performance; but having met with a divine oracle, which ordered them another way, they thought it most advisable to obey God rather than man.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 2:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Acts 19:28

   And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

   ›Commentary on Acts 19:282 voices

   “They became enraged upon hearing about Artemis and the undermining of their craft, because it is characteristic of the rabble to become agitated and inflamed by any matter, even a trivial one. They had gods in the city; and they assumed a threatening posture, so …

   “Were full of wrath - Were greatly enraged - probably at the prospect of losing their gains. Great is Diana ... - The term “great” was often applied by the Greeks to Diana. Thus, in Xenophon (Ephes. i.), he says, “I adjure you by your own goddess, the great (τὴν μεγάλην tēn megalēn) Diana of the Ephesians.” The design of this clamor was doubtless to produce a persecution against Paul, and thus to secure a continuance of their employment.

   Everything gathered on Acts 19:28→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Ephesians 2:3

    Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

    ›Commentary on Ephesians 2:32 voices

    “There is a difference between sin of the flesh and sin of the mind. The sin of the flesh is indecency and profligacy and whatever might act as instrument to its lusts. The transgression of the mind pertains to doctrine contrary to truth and to the baseness of heretics.

    “We all had our conversation - see the notes at 2Co 1:12; compare 1Pe 4:3. In the lusts of our flesh - Living to gratify the flesh, or the propensities of a corrupt nature. It is observable here that the apostle changes the form of the address from “ye” to “we,” thus including himself with others, and saying that this was true of “all” before their conversion. He means undoubtedly to say, that whatever might have been the place of their birth, or the differences of religion under which they had been trained, they were substantially alike by nature.

    Everything gathered on Ephesians 2:3→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 1 Timothy 2:8

    I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

    ›Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:82 voices

    “I will therefore that men pray everywhere,.... In this declaration of the apostle's will concerning prayer, he only takes notice of "men"; not but that it is both the duty and privilege of women, as well as men, to pray in their houses and closets; but because he is speaking of public prayer in the church, which only belongs to men, he speaks only of them; and his will is, that prayer should be performed by them everywhere, or in any place, in any part of the world where they lived.

    “I will therefore - Seeing the apostle had his authority from Christ, and spoke nothing but what he received from him, his βουλομαι, I will, is equal to I command. That men pray - That is, for the blessings promised in this testimony of God. For, although God has provided them, yet he will not give them to such as will not pray. See the note on 1Ti 2:1, the subject of which is here resumed. Everywhere - Εν παντι τοπῳ· In every place. That they should always have a praying heart, and this will ever find a praying place.

    Everything gathered on 1 Timothy 2:8→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Revelation 6:16

    And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

    ›Commentary on Revelation 6:161 voice

    “Said to the mountains and rocks - Expressions which denote the strongest perturbation and alarm. They preferred any kind of death to that which they apprehended from this most awful revolution. From the face of him that sitteth on the throne - They now saw that all these terrible judgments came from the Almighty; and that Christ, the author of Christianity, was now judging, condemning, and destroying them for their cruel persecutions of his followers.

    Everything gathered on Revelation 6:16→

    Verse page →Original language →

Words searched, at word start, across the King James text: anger… · angry… · wrath… · wroth…

Lives that met it (5)

Curated character profiles whose own account speaks of anger.

• Jehu10th King of Israel · Divided KingdomAnointed by Elisha's messenger to destroy Ahab's house, Jehu executed Joram, Jezebel, all seventy sons of Ahab, and destroyed Baal worship in Israel. Yet he did not turn from the golden calves of Jeroboam, and his dynasty lasted four generations.
• XerxesKing of Persia · Return from Exile / PersiaAlso known as Ahasuerus, Xerxes is the Persian king in the book of Esther who deposed Queen Vashti, chose Esther as queen, authorized Haman's genocide plot against the Jews, and then had Haman executed and issued a second decree allowing Jews to defend themselves.
• NehemiahRebuilder of Jerusalem's Walls · Persian Empire/Post-ExilicNehemiah was cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes who, grieved by reports of Jerusalem's ruined walls, obtained permission to return and lead the rebuilding effort despite fierce opposition, completing the wall in just fifty-two days.
• JonahThe Reluctant Prophet · 8th centuryJonah son of Amittai of Gath-hepher (mentioned in 2 Kgs 14:25) is the prophet whose rebellion became his sign. Commissioned to preach to Assyria's capital Nineveh, he fled to Tarshish, was swallowed by a great fish, and three days later was vomited onto dry land to fulfill his mission. Jesus named him as a sign of his own death and resurrection.
• MosesProphet, Lawgiver, Deliverer · ExodusMoses is the central human figure of the Old Testament, the prophet who led Israel out of slavery in Egypt, mediated the covenant at Sinai, led the people through forty years in the wilderness, and received the Torah. Deuteronomy 34:10 says that no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.