ANGER (IN THE BIBLE)

Human anger is generally frowned upon in the Bible. Jacob curses the anger of Simeon and Levi (Gn 49:5–7; see also ch. 34). The wisdom literature sees anger as a source of harm for the one angered; it is folly, a source of sins, and a cause of discord (Ps 36[37].8; Prv 14.17, 29; 15.18; 29.22; see also 15.1; 19.11). To be the object of anger could be disastrous (Gn 4.5; 27.43–44; 1 Sm 18.8–9; Prv 16.14; 20.2; Eccl 10.4; see also Lk 4.28; Acts 7.54–58). The NT sees anger and its consequences as things to be avoided in the Christian community (Mt 5.21–22; 1 Cor 13.5; Eph 4.31; 6.4; Col 3.8; 1 Tm 2.8; Ti 1.7). "The wrath of man does not work the justice of God" (Jas 1.19–20). Eph 4.26 (cf. Ps 4.5) recognizes the uncontrollable movements of anger and admonishes the faithful not to remain in an angry state. Yet anger ordered to divine justice is just (Ex 16.20; 32.19–20; Is 13.5; 1 Sm 15.33). This is certainly true of Christ's anger (Mk 3.5; 10.14; Mt 12.34; 15.7; 16.23; 23.13–36; Jn 2.15–17.)

Divine anger in the Bible is an anthropomorphical expression of divine retributive justice. It brings out the personal element in God's dealings with men. His anger is provoked by Israel's unresponsiveness to divine love offered in the covenant (Ex 32.1–10; Dt 11.16–17; Jgs 2.11–15; Is 65.1–7; Ez 7.1–27; Hos ch. 13). God's anger, however, is balanced by His love (Ex 32.12–14; Is 54.7–10; 63.9–15; Hos 11.8–9; Mi 7.18–20). Divine anger is aroused by the wickedness of nations (Ps 2) or by the rebellion of men against their Creator (Gn 4.10–14; 6.5–8; Sir 5.7). Often inexplicable, God's wrath is never satanical or a matter of divine caprice, though a few texts present difficulty in interpretation (Ex 4.24; 2 Sm 6.7; 24.1). Already an active force (Gn 6.17; Nm 11.33; 16.25–35; Ps 105[106].13–18; Is 30.30; 10.5–6; Jer 21.14; 22.1–6; Jgs 2.11–15; 1 Sm 5.9), it is being stored up for the day of the lord (Am 5.18–20; Is 13.9; Zep 1.15–18). God's final wrath also is a prominent theme in the NT (Mt 3.7; 18.23–35; Lk 14.16–24; Rom 2.5; Col 3.5–6; 1 Pt 4.17–18; Jude 14–15). The last day is still the day of wrath, but the redeemed in Christ will be delivered from it (Jn 3.36; Rom 5.9; Eph 5.1–7; 1 Thes 1.9–10; 2 Tm 1.12, 18). Christ Himself will be the executor of divine anger (Mt 25.31–46; Jn 5.22; Rv 6.15–17; 22.12–13).

Bibliography: m. aloysia, "The God of Wrath?" Catholic Biblical Quarterly 8 (1946) 407–415. l. bouyer, "The Servant of Yahveh," The Paschal Mystery, tr. m. benoit (Chicago 1950) 181–191. w. eichrodt, Theology of the O.T., tr. j. a. baker (Philadelphia 1961–) 1:250–258. a. richardson, An Introduction to the Theology of the N.T. (New York 1958) 75–79. w. eichrodt and h. conzelmann, Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, 7 v. (3d ed. Tübingen 1957–65) 6:1930–32. Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Bible, tr. and adap. by l. hartman (New York 1963), from a. van den born, Bijbels Woordenboek 90–91.

[j. a. fallon]