Raising Your Voice in Anger According to Scripture
The act of raising one's voice in anger is addressed in various biblical and theological traditions, often with a focus on the nature and consequences of such expressions. While some instances of "raising one's voice" are commanded for prophetic or communal purposes, the context of anger typically carries negative connotations.
Scripture contains examples where God's anger is described, such as in Psalm 7:6, where the psalmist implores, "Arise, Yahweh, in your anger" [1]. Similarly, Psalm 10:12 and Psalm 17:13 also speak of God arising in anger [7]. However, human anger is frequently cautioned against. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists anger as "forbidden" in passages like Ecclesiastes 7:9 and Matthew 5:22, and identifies it as a "work of the flesh" in Galatians 5:20 [3]. It also characterizes anger as a trait of fools and links it to pride, cruelty, clamor, evil-speaking, malice, blasphemy, strife, and contention [3].
The Midrash Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations, connects the voice with divine displeasure. In Kohelet Rabbah 5:5:1, the verse "Why should God grow angry at your voice, and destroy your handiwork?" (Ecclesiastes 5:5) is interpreted in the context of those who pledge charity publicly but fail to deliver, suggesting that God's anger can be provoked by an insincere voice [4]. Another passage in Bamidbar Rabbah 16:20 describes the "entire congregation raised and sounded their voice and the people wept that night" (Numbers 14:1) as a grumbling that led to trouble, implying that a collective voice of complaint can incur negative consequences [9].
The New Testament also provides guidance on anger. Ephesians 4:26 states, "Be ye angry, and sin not" [5]. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, interpreted this verse by emphasizing that "clamor carries anger, as a horse his rider; trip the horse, and you will throw the rider" [6]. He advised against crying aloud in anger, particularly for women, suggesting that avoiding a raised voice can help control one's temper [6]. Tertullian, another Patristic writer, stressed the importance of resolving discord before approaching God, implying that anger toward a brother hinders one's prayers [8].
While anger itself is not always condemned, the expression of it through a raised voice or clamor is often viewed negatively, particularly when it leads to sin or discord. Conversely, "lifting up one's voice" is commanded in a positive sense for prophetic declaration, as seen in Isaiah 58:1: "Cry aloud, don’t spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience" [2]. This suggests that the context and purpose of raising one's voice are crucial in biblical thought.
Sources
- Psalms “Arise, Yahweh, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment. -- Psalms 7:6”
- Isaiah ““Cry aloud, don’t spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins. -- Isaiah 58:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger — Forbidden -- Ec 7:9; Mt 5:22; Ro 12:19. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. A characteristic of fools -- Pr 12:16; 14:29; 27:3; Ec 7:9. Connected with Pride. -- Pr 21:24. Cruelty. -- Ge 49:7; Pr 27:3,4. Clamour and evil-speaking. -- Eph 4:31. Malice and blasphemy. -- Col 3:8. Strife and contention. -- Pr 21:19; 29:22; 30:33. Brings its own punishment -- Job 5:2; Pr 19:19; 25:28. Grievous words stir up -- Jdj 12:4; 2Sa 19:43; Pr 15:1. Should not betray us into sin -- Ps 37:8; Eph 4:26. In prayer be free from -- 1Ti 2:8. May be averted by wisdom -- Pr 29:8. Meeknes”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet Rabbah 5:5:1: “Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was unwitting; why should God grow angry at your voice, and destroy your handiwork?” (Ecclesiastes 5:5) “Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin” – Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi interpreted the verse regarding those who pledge charity in public, but do not give it. “And do not say before the messenger” – this is the pledge collector; “that it was unwitting” – and I have reconsidered. “Why should God grow angry at your voice” – at that voice with which you ”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:26: Be ye angry, and sin not--So the Septuagint, Psa 4:4. Should circumstances arise to call for anger on your part, let it be as Christ's "anger" (Mar 3:5), without sin. Our natural feelings are not wrong when directed to their legitimate object, and when not exceeding due bounds. As in the future literal, so in the present spiritual, resurrection, no essential constituent is annihilated, but all that is a perversion of the original design is removed. Thus indignation at dishonor done to God, and wrong to man, is justifiable anger. Passion is sinful (d”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: man must needs be of such a character, because clamor carries anger, as a horse his rider; trip the horse, and you will throw the rider. Moral. This let women above all attend to, them who on every occasion cry aloud and bawl. There is but one thing in which it is useful to cry aloud, in preaching and in teaching. But in no other case whatever, no, not even in prayer. And if thou wouldest learn a practical lesson, never cry aloud at all, and then wilt thou never be angry at all. Behold a way to keep your temper; for as it is not ”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 75:1: “Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, to the land of Se’ir, the field of Edom” (Genesis 32:4). “Jacob sent messengers before him” – Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Reuven began: “Arise, Lord, confront him and subdue him. Rescue me from the wicked with Your sword” (Psalms 17:13) – Rabbi Pinḥas said: Five times in the book of Psalms, David calls for the Holy One blessed be He to arise: “Arise, Lord; save me, my God” (Psalms 3:8); “Arise, Lord, in Your anger” (Psalms 7:7); “Arise, Lord God, raise Your hand. Do not forget” (Psalms 10:12); “”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XI.--WHEN PRAYING THE FATHER, YOU ARE NOT TO BE ANGRY WITH A BROTHER.: That we may not be as far from the ears of God as we are from His precepts,[1] the memory of His precepts paves for our prayers a way unto heaven; of which precepts the chief is, that we go not up unto God's altar[2] before we compose whatever of discord or offence we have contracted with our brethren.[3] For what sort of deed is it to approach the peace of God[4] without peace? the remission of debts s while you retain them? How will he appease his Father who is angry with his brother, when f”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bamidbar Rabbah 16:20: “ The entire congregation raised and sounded their voice and the people wept that night” (Numbers 14:1). “The entire congregation raised and sounded their voice” – this is what is written: “The words of a grumbler are like blows, and they descend into the chambers of the belly” (Proverbs 18:8). The matters that they grumbled after the Holy One blessed be He caused them great trouble, as had they not concurred with the spies, they would not have been stricken with them, but they followed them, as it is stated: “You grumbled [ vateragenu ] in your tents and”