Topical Encyclopedia
Rage, a powerful and often destructive emotion, is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible. It is typically associated with intense anger and wrath, leading to actions that are contrary to the teachings of Scripture. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the dangers and consequences of rage, urging believers to seek peace and self-control.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, rage is frequently depicted as a characteristic of the wicked and foolish.
Proverbs 29:11 states, "A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back." This verse highlights the contrast between the impulsive nature of rage and the wisdom found in restraint. The account of Cain and Abel in
Genesis 4:5-8 illustrates how unchecked rage can lead to sin and violence, as Cain's anger towards his brother culminates in murder.
The Psalms often describe the rage of nations and enemies against God and His anointed.
Psalm 2:1-2 asks, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One." Here, rage is depicted as futile opposition to God's sovereign will.
New Testament TeachingsIn the New Testament, rage is addressed in the context of Christian conduct and the transformation expected in the life of a believer.
Ephesians 4:31 instructs, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice." This directive is part of a broader call to live a life worthy of the calling received, characterized by love, humility, and forgiveness.
The Apostle Paul further warns against the works of the flesh in
Galatians 5:19-21, listing "fits of rage" among the behaviors that are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit. Believers are encouraged to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as these are the marks of a life led by the Spirit.
Jesus and Righteous IndignationWhile rage is generally condemned, the Bible does provide instances of righteous indignation, particularly in the life of Jesus. In
Mark 3:5, Jesus looks around at the Pharisees "with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart," before healing a man on the Sabbath. This anger is not sinful rage but a response to injustice and a lack of compassion.
Similarly, Jesus' cleansing of the temple (
John 2:13-17) is an example of His zeal for God's house, where His actions are driven by a desire to uphold the sanctity of worship rather than personal vendetta or loss of control.
Practical Implications for BelieversThe Bible's teachings on rage emphasize the importance of self-control and the pursuit of peace.
James 1:19-20 advises, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man's anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires." Believers are called to reflect the character of Christ, who embodies patience and love, even in the face of provocation.
In summary, while rage is a natural human emotion, the Bible consistently warns against allowing it to govern one's actions. Instead, believers are encouraged to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to overcome anger with love and self-discipline.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Violent excitement; eager passion; extreme vehemence of desire, emotion, or suffering, mastering the will.
2. (n.) Especially, anger accompanied with raving; overmastering wrath; violent anger; fury.
3. (n.) A violent or raging wind.
4. (n.) The subject of eager desire; that which is sought after, or prosecuted, with unreasonable or excessive passion; as, to be all the rage.
5. (n.) To be furious with anger; to be exasperated to fury; to be violently agitated with passion.
6. (n.) To be violent and tumultuous; to be violently driven or agitated; to act or move furiously; as, the raging sea or winds.
7. (n.) To ravage; to prevail without restraint, or with destruction or fatal effect; as, the plague raged in Cairo.
8. (n.) To toy or act wantonly; to sport.
9. (v. t.) To enrage.
Greek
3105. mainomai -- torage, be mad... to
rage, be mad. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: mainomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mah'-ee-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I am raving mad Definition: I am raving
...1693. emmainomai -- torage against
... torage against. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: emmainomai Phonetic Spelling:
(em-mah'-ee-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I am madly enraged with Definition...
5433. phruasso -- to neigh, whinny, fig. to be wanton
... to be wanton. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phruasso Phonetic Spelling:
(froo-as'-so) Short Definition: I roar,rage Definition: I am wanton, insolent...
454. anoia -- folly, foolishness
... 2, 83) which easily degenerates into "a state of extreme anger that suggests an
"incapacity to use one's mind -- extreme fury, greatrage" (, 1, 88.183)....
1031. brucho -- to bite, to gnash
... Verb Transliteration: brucho Phonetic Spelling: (broo'-kho) Short Definition: I
grind or gnash Definition: I grind or gnash, as with the teeth forrage or pain...
1690. embrimaomai -- to be moved with anger, to admonish sternly
... 1690 (from 1722 , "engaged " and , "to snort") -- properly, snort like an angry
horse; (literally) "(roar) withrage" () which expresses , ie deep feeling that...
2372. thumos -- passion
... the same as thuella Definition passion NASB Word Usage angry tempers (1), fierce
(2), indignation (1), outbursts of anger (1), passion (2),rage (2), wrath (9...
3130. mania -- frenzy, madness
... insanity. Cognate: 3130 (root of English terms like "maniac, mania") --
madness; irrationalrage (temporary insanity). See 3105 ()....
3950. parorgismos -- irritation
... See 3949 (). Word Origin from parorgizo Definition irritation NASB Word Usage anger
(1). wrath. From parorgizo;rage -- wrath. see GREEK parorgizo....
2366. thuella -- a whirlwind
... whirlwind. Word Origin from thuo (torage, seethe) Definition a whirlwind
NASB Word Usage whirlwind (1). tempest, storm, whirlwind....
Strong's Hebrew
7266. regaz -- arage... a
rage. Transliteration: regaz Phonetic Spelling: (reg-az') Short Definition:
rage.
Word Origin (Aramaic) from regaz Definition a
rage NASB Word Usage
rage (1).
...2534. chemah -- heat,rage
... 2533, 2534. chemah. 2535 . heat,rage. Transliteration: chemah Phonetic
Spelling: (khay-maw') Short Definition: wrath. Word Origin...
2197. zaaph -- a storming, raging,rage
... a storming, raging,rage. Transliteration: zaaph Phonetic Spelling: (zah'-af) Short
Definition: enraged.... From za'aph; anger -- indignation,rage(-ing), wrath....
5590. saar -- to storm,rage
... 5589b, 5590. saar. 5591 . to storm,rage. Transliteration: saar Phonetic
Spelling: (saw-ar') Short Definition: away. Word Origin a prim....
2001a. haman -- torage, be turbulent
... 2001, 2001a. haman. 2001b . torage, be turbulent. Transliteration: haman
Short Definition: turmoil. Word Origin denominative verb...
2528. chema -- arage
... 2527, 2528. chema. 2529 . arage. Transliteration: chema Phonetic Spelling:
(khem-aw') Short Definition: anger. Word Origin (Aramaic...
2001. Haman -- torage, be turbulent
... 2000, 2001. Haman. 2001a . torage, be turbulent. Transliteration: Haman
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-mawn') Short Definition: Haman. Haman...
7267. rogez -- agitation, excitement, raging
... Word Origin from ragaz Definition agitation, excitement, raging NASB Word Usage
rage (1), raging (1), thunder (1), turmoil (3), wrath (1)....
5678. ebrah -- overflow, arrogance, fury
... Word Origin fem. of eber Definition overflow, arrogance, fury NASB Word Usage anger
(1), fury (14), overflowings (1),rage (1), wrath (16). anger,rage, wrath....
2195. zaam -- indignation
... indignation. Word Origin from zaam Definition indignation NASB Word Usage
indignation (21), insolence (1). angry, indignation,rage. From...
Library
Of theRage of the Demons against Christians, and the Error of...
... the divine institutes Book V. Of Justice. Chap. XXII."Of theRage of the
Demons Against Christians, and the Error of Unbelievers....
And Pilate, Filled withRage, Went Outside of the Pr??torium...
... Part I."The Acts of Pilate. First Greek Form. Chapter 3. And Pilate, filled
withrage, went outside of the pr??torium? And Pilate...
Pilate Therefore Went Outside inRage and Anger, and Says to Annas...
... Part I."The Acts of Pilate. Second Greek Form. Chapter 3. Pilate therefore went
outside inrage and anger, and says to Annas and Caiaphas?...
Simon'sRage.
... Book III. Chapter XLVI."Simon'sRage. But when Simon heard this, he assailed
Peter with curses and reproaches, saying: "Oh most...
Of those who Fast Out ofRage.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XIX. Of those who fast out ofrage.
There is too another evil sort of vexation which would...
Psalm VI.
... in this life. "Nor in Thyrage chasten me." "Chasten," seems rather too
mild a word; for it availeth toward amendment. For for him...
Elucidations.
... Courage, he says, is formed from c??ur andrage, this use ofrage being the Greek
thumos.... "Chill penury repressed their noblerage,". from Gray's Elegy....
Up! Up! My Heart with Gladness.
... The mighty pow'r of death Is my regard beneath; It is a pow'rless form,
Howe'er itrage and storm. The world my laughter ever Moves...
Harmless Fires
... THE BOOK OF DANIEL HARMLESS FIRES. 'Then Nebuchadnezzar in hisrage and
fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego....
Antichrist in the Psalms
... not all) prophecy, a double fulfillment. "Why do the heathensrage, and
the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth...
Thesaurus
Rage (43 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) The subject of eager desire; that which is sought after, or prosecuted,
with unreasonable or excessive passion; as, to be all the
rage.
...Gnash (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews harak, meaning "to grate the teeth", (Job
16:9; Psalm 112:10; Lamentations 2:16), denotesrage or sorrow....
Fury (152 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Violent anger; extreme wrath;rage; -- sometimes applied to inanimate things,
as the wind or storms; impetuosity; violence. 4. (n.) pl....
Imagine (24 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen
rage, and the people imagine vain things? (KJV ASV WBS RSV)....
Raged (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofRage. Multi-Version Concordance
Raged (12 Occurrences). Matthew 12:25 Knowing their thoughts...
Madness (13 Occurrences)
... It also denotes a reckless state of mind arising from various causes, as over-study
(Ecclesiastes 1:17; 2:12), blindrage (Luke 6:11), or a depraved temper...
Ahimaaz (15 Occurrences)
... a-hi-ma'-az, a-him'-a-az ('achima`ats, perhaps "my brother israge," or "brother
ofrage"): (1) Father of Ahinoam the wife of King Saul (1 Samuel 14:50)....
Camest (27 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:28 Because thyrage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears,
therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I...
Storm (62 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) Torage; to be in a violent passion; to fume. Multi-Version Concordance
Storm (62 Occurrences).... Nahum 2:4 The chariotsrage in the streets....
Plot (53 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Acts 4:25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,'Why do the
nationsrage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? (WEB NIV)....
Resources
Did Jesus come to bring peace on earth? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the South in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the enemy within? | GotQuestions.orgRage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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