Anxiety

Across the canon

In the King James text (27 verses)

Every verse where Scripture speaks of anxiety, 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.The King James translators had no word "anxiety", they wrote "be careful for nothing" (Philippians 4:6) and "fret not thyself" (Psalm 37:1).

1. Leviticus 13:51

   And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.

   ›Commentary on Leviticus 13:511 voice

   “A fretting leprosy - i. e. a malignant or corroding leprosy. What was the nature of the leprosy in clothing, which produced greenish or reddish spots, cannot be precisely determined. It was most likely destructive mildew, perhaps of more than one kind.

   Everything gathered on Leviticus 13:51→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 1 Samuel 1:6

   And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:61 voice

   “And her adversary - That is, Peninnah. Provoked her sore - Was constantly striving to irritate and vex her, to make her fret - to make her discontented with her lot, because the Lord had denied her children.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 2 Kings 4:13

   And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

   ›Commentary on 2 Kings 4:131 voice

   “Thou hast been careful for us - For the prophet and his servant, who must have been lodged as well as his master. I dwell among mine own people - The woman declines Elisha’s offer. She has no wrong to complain of, no quarrel with any neighbor, in respect of which she might need the help of one in power. She “dwells among her own people” - her friends, and dependents, with whom she lives peaceably.

   Everything gathered on 2 Kings 4:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Proverbs 19:3

   The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

   ›Commentary on Proverbs 19:31 voice

   The non-wisdom which, having brought about disasters by its own perverseness, then turns round and “fretteth,” i. e., angrily complains against the Providence of God. Perverteth - Rather, “overturneth,” “maketh to fail.”

   Everything gathered on Proverbs 19:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Jeremiah 17:8

   For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 17:82 voices

   It may be said both of the Jews and of the heretics that they put their hope in humankind, for the messiah whom they believe to be coming is clearly not the Son of God but a mere man. The person of the church, in contrast, who puts faith in the Lord, hears this: "Know that the Lord himself is God."

   “A s a tree planted by the waters - Which is sufficiently supplied with moisture, though the heat be intense, and there be no rain; for the roots being spread out by the river, they absorb from it all the moisture requisite for the flourishing vegetation of the tree. Shall not see when heat cometh - Shall not feel any damage by drought, for the reason already assigned. It shall be strong and vigorous, its leaf always green; and shall produce plenty of fruit in its season.

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 17:8→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Ezekiel 12:18

   Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

   ›Commentary on Ezekiel 12:182 voices

   “Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking,.... As one in surprise or fear, or that has got an ague upon him: and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness; fearing want of it, or as apprehensive of danger of its being taken away; see Eze 4:16.

   “Eat thy bread with quaking - Assume the manner of a person who is every moment afraid of his life, who has nothing but a morsel of bread to eat, and a little water to drink. Thus signifying the siege, and the straits to which they should be reduced. See this explained, Eze 12:19 (note).

   Everything gathered on Ezekiel 12:18→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Micah 1:12

   For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem.

   ›Commentary on Micah 1:122 voices

   “(Vers. 10 seq.) In Geth, do not announce, do not weep with tears, sprinkle yourselves with dust in the house of dust: pass by, you inhabitants of Saphir (Beautiful), confused with disgrace, she who dwells in Sennan (Exit) has not come out. The lament of the house of Asel (Neighboring) will receive you: she who stood for herself, because she is weakened in good, she who dwells in Maroth (Bitterness): for evil descends from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.

   “For the inhabitant of Maroth - (bitterness) waited carefully for good She waited carefully for the good which God gives, not for the Good which God is. She looked, longed for, good, as men do; but therewith her longing ended. She longed for it, amid her own evil, which brought God’s judgments upon her. Maroth is mentioned here only in Holy Scripture, and has not been identified. It too was probably selected for its meaning.

   Everything gathered on Micah 1:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Luke 10:41

   And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

   ›Commentary on Luke 10:412 voices

   “May you then like Mary be influenced by the desire of wisdom. For this is the greater, this the more perfect work. Nor let the care of ministering to others turn thy mind from the knowledge of the heavenly word, nor reprove or think indolent those whom thou seest seeking after wisdom.

   “(6. Mor. c. 18.) Or by Mary who sat and heard our Lord's words, is signified the contemplative life; by Martha engaged in more outward services, the active life. Now Martha's care is not blamed, but Mary is praised, for great are the rewards of an active life, but those of a contemplative are far better. Hence Mary's part it is said will never be taken away from her, for the works of an active life pass away with the body, but the joys of the contemplative life the rather begin to increase from the end.

   Everything gathered on Luke 10:41→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Corinthians 7:32

   But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Philippians 2:28

    I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

    ›Commentary on Philippians 2:282 voices

    “Why does Paul add the phrase "and I may be less anxious?" Because he has already said that Epaphroditus had ministered to his needs. He did not want it to appear as though he was sad to be sending him. Since Epaphroditus desired to be …

    “The more carefully - Σπουδαιοτερως· With the more haste or despatch; because, having suffered so much on account of his apprehended death, they could not be too soon comforted by seeing him alive and restored.

    Everything gathered on Philippians 2:28→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Titus 3:8

    This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

    ›Commentary on Titus 3:82 voices

    “Faithful is the saying, and I wish to confirm (or affirm) you about these things, that those who believe in the Lord should have care to preside over good works. These things are good and useful for men. This saying, faithful is, must be joined to the preceding part, in which he said that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs in the hope of eternal life. For the saying about the inheritance of God is worthy of faith, and about the hope of eternal life.

    “This is a faithful saying - Πιστος ὁ λογος· This is the true doctrine; the doctrine that cannot fail. And these things I will - Και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι· And I will, or desire, thee to maintain earnestly what concerns these points. The things to which the apostle refers are those of which he had just been writing, and may be thus summed up: - 1. The ruined state of man, both in soul and body. 2. The infinite goodness of God which devised his salvation. 3. The manifestation of this goodness, by the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

    Everything gathered on Titus 3:8→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Hebrews 12:17

    For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

    ›Commentary on Hebrews 12:171 voice

    “For ye know how that afterward ... - When he came to his father, and earnestly besought him to reverse the sentence which he had pronounced; see Gen 27:34-40. The “blessing” here referred to was not that of the birth-right, which he knew he could not regain, but that pronounced by the father Isaac on him whom he regarded as his first-born son. This Jacob obtained by fraud, when Isaac really “meant” to bestow it on Esau.

    Everything gathered on Hebrews 12:17→

    Verse page →Original language →

Words searched, at word start, across the King James text: anxious… · careful… · carefulness… · fret…

Lives that met it (1)

Curated character profiles whose own account speaks of anxiety.

• MarthaFaithful Servant of Bethany · New TestamentMartha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, welcomed Jesus into her home and served Him faithfully, though she was gently corrected for anxious distraction. Her confession of Jesus as the Christ before Lazarus' resurrection stands among Scripture's clearest declarations of faith.