What Does the Bible Say About Emotions?

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about emotions. While neither the word "emotion" nor "emotions" appears in the Bible, the Bible does however address many other specific emotions. God made mankind in His own image, so we experience emotions, just as God Himself experiences emotions. Emotions are said to be neither "good" nor "bad," but the behaviors that arise from them can be either positive or sinful.

Identification

Although the word "emotion" does not appear in the Bible, many specific emotions are included in the Bible. The word "anger" is mentioned 270 times in the Bible. The word "joy" is mentioned 242 times. Other emotions are also mentioned. For example, "grief" is mentioned 35 times, "mourning" is mentioned 47 times, and "mourn" is mentioned 138 times. "Sadness" is only mentioned once and "frightened" is only mentioned 9 times. Where as "Terror" is mentioned 88 times. The Bible discusses multiple emotions as part of the human experience.

Misconceptions

Many people mistakenly believe that anger is a sin. However, the Bible never refers to experiencing the emotion of anger as sinful. In Ephesians 4:26, the Bible says, "In your anger, do not sin," which implies that it is one's reaction to anger that has the potential to be sinful, not the anger itself. In fact, God Himself experiences anger. See Exodus 4:14, Leviticus 26:28, and Numbers 11:33 for a few examples. The Bible frequently describes God as "slow to anger" (Psalm 103:8), and we should follow His example.

Significance

God cares about our emotions. The Bible says in Psalm 34:18 that God is close to the brokenhearted. When Jesus first announced his "job description" in Luke 4:16-20, he quoted Isaiah 61:1, which says that God sent Jesus to "Bind up the brokenhearted." David frequently expressed his emotions in the Psalms, and David was known as the man after God's own heart. God Himself experiences emotions, from anger (Exodus 4:14) to pleasure (I Chronicles 29:17).

Benefits

Expressing our emotions makes room for God's healing power. We need to pour out our pain so we have room to experience God's presence. David did this frequently throughout the Psalms, and he was known as the man after God's own heart. Job also poured out his emotions, and God never criticized him for how he was feeling. Jesus wept (John 11:35), even to the point of sweating blood before the crucifixion (Luke 22:44). Expressing our emotions is healthy.

Considerations

The Bible encourages us to put more energy into our positive emotions than our negative ones. In Colossians 3:8, the Bible encourages us to rid ourselves of anger and other negative emotions. Instead, the Bible encourages us in Philipians 4:8 to think about "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy." Emotions are fleeting, but we can choose how we direct our energy. Instead of nursing our bitterness, we find freedom in choosing to think about things that are good.

Resources

• Philipians 4:8-9
• Colossians 3:1-17