Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ephesians 4:26-27
What does Ephesians 4:26-27 mean?
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Ephesians 4:26-27
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The verse doesn't just permit anger; it implies that anger can actually be a tool for good, like a righteous indignation against wrongdoing, but only if we're careful to keep it from turning into sin. This means we need to actively manage our emotions, not letting them fester, because unresolved anger gives the devil an opening to work in our lives.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing the believers in Ephesus about living out their new identity in Christ, urging them to unity and to shed their old ways of thinking and behaving. He's just described the kind of transformation they should undergo, contrasting the deceitful practices of the past with the honest, constructive communication that should mark their present lives. This verse serves as a specific instruction within that broader call to live in a manner worthy of their calling, building up the church rather than tearing it down.
Is all anger bad? The Bible says 'be angry,' but then immediately warns against sin. How can anger be both okay and dangerous?
Paul tells us to 'be angry and do not sin.' This isn't a contradiction, but a crucial distinction.
The 'Okay' Anger:
The 'Sinful' Anger:
Ask a follow-up
Paul's command means we must be incredibly discerning. If anger arises, we must immediately ask: Why am I angry? Is this for God's glory and against sin, or is it about me?
Paul doesn't just say 'don't sin,' he gives a deadline: 'do not let the sun go down on your anger.' Why the urgency?
That second part of the verse—'do not let the sun go down on your anger'—is a powerful, practical instruction for managing anger.
A Deadline for Peace:
A Healthy Practice:
Understand the original words
orgizesthe · Greek Verb
A strong feeling of displeasure, hostility, or indignation. While sometimes righteous, it is frequently warned against because of its tendency to lead to sinful behavior.
hamartanete · Greek Verb
Missing the mark or failing to conform to the moral law of God in thought, word, or deed. It is an act of rebellion against God's standards and character.
diabolō · Greek Noun
An adversary or accuser; specifically the chief evil spirit, the enemy of God and humanity who seeks to deceive, tempt, and destroy.
This is the Old Testament passage Ephesians 4:26 quotes from, showing the origin of Paul's instruction to manage anger carefully and avoid sin.
Romans 12:19This passage echoes the sentiment of Ephesians 4:26 by urging believers not to take revenge themselves, but to leave room for God's judgment, which aligns with not letting anger fester into personal retribution.
James 1:19-20James directly addresses the speed and manner in which anger should be handled, emphasizing that 'the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God,' reinforcing Paul's caution against sinful anger.
Matthew 5:22Jesus speaks about anger, even calling someone a 'fool' being deserving of hellfire, highlighting the extreme seriousness with which anger must be treated and managed within God's kingdom.
Proverbs 14:29This proverb connects a lack of quick temper with great understanding, while a quick temper leads to foolishness, providing practical wisdom that supports the principle of not letting anger linger.
barnesEphesians 4:26: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"
Be ye angry and sin not - It has been remarked that the direction here is conformable to the usage of the Pythagoreans, who were bound, when there were any differences among them, to furnish some token of reconciliation before the sun set. Burder, in Ros. Alt. u. neu. Morgenland, in loc. It is implied here: (1) that there "may" be anger without sin; and, (2) that there is special danger in all cases where there…
meyerEphesians 4:26: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"
Ephesians 4:26-27 . See Zyro in the Stud. u. Krit. 1841, p. 681 ff. ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε ] a precept expressed literally after the LXX. Psalm 4:5 , as to which it must be left undetermined whether Paul understood the original text[244] as the LXX. did, or chose this form only in recollection of the LXX., without attending to the original text. To the right understanding of the sense (which Paul would hav…
The verse doesn't just permit anger; it implies that anger can actually be a tool for good, like a righteous indignation against wrongdoing, but only if we're careful to keep it from turning into sin. This means we need to actively manage our emotions, not letting them fester, because unresolved anger gives the devil an opening to work in our lives.
Paul is addressing the believers in Ephesus about living out their new identity in Christ, urging them to unity and to shed their old ways of thinking and behaving. He's just described the kind of transformation they should undergo, contrasting the deceitful practices of the past with the honest, constructive communication that should mark their present lives. This verse serves as a specific instruction within that broader call to live in a manner worthy of their calling, building up the church rather than tearing it down.
Paul is addressing the believers in Ephesus about living out their new identity in Christ, urging them to unity and to shed their old ways of thinking and behaving. He's just described the kind of transformation they should undergo, contrasting the deceitful practices of the past with the honest, constructive communication that should mark their present lives. This verse serves as a specific instruction within that broader call to live in a manner worthy of their calling, building up the church rather than tearing it down.
"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." — The verse doesn't just permit anger; it implies that anger can actually be a tool for good, like a righteous indignation against wrongdoing, but only if we're careful to keep it from turning into sin…
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Last reviewed October 2026