Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Holding A Grudge?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Holding A Grudge in the Bible
Discover 13 powerful Bible verses about holding a grudge. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential character & virtues topic.
Top 10 Verses About Holding A Grudge
- 1Leviticus 19:18
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
KJV - 2Proverbs 19:11
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. discretion: or, prudence”
KJV - 3Matthew 6:14
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
KJV - 4Matthew 18:21
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
KJV - 5Mark 11:25
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
KJV - 6Luke 17:3
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
KJV - 7John 13:34
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
KJV - 8
- 9Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
KJV - 10Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Holding A Grudge? (2 Verses)
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. discretion: or, prudence”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Holding A Grudge? (11 Verses)
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
“And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Holding A Grudge
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about holding a grudge. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about holding a grudge and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about holding a grudge is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on holding a grudge needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about holding a grudge with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about holding a grudge, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Holding A Grudge?
You have studied 13 verses about holding a grudge. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.