Emotions

Published on 5 April 2026 at 10:57

 Bible verses for emotions.

  1. Fear, of some soldiers who are afraid to go to war Deuteronomy 32:30. David's fear of Absolom's popularity 2 Samuel 15:13,14.  Unnecessary fear 1 Kings 1:50-53.  Fear of the future Psalms 55:4-5.  Fear of man Proverbs 29:25. Fear of death Isaiah 41:10.

 

  1. Surprise, finding grapes in the desert Hosea 9:10. People amazed by the supernatural work of God Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:11. Jesus surprised by the faith of the centurion Mark 8:10, Luke 7:9.

 

  1. Love, for fellow man Leviticus 19:18. Love for God Deuteronomy 6:5.  Love for friends John 15:13, also David and Jonathan.  Romantic love Rebekah and Jacob Genesis 25:28.

 

  1. Acceptance, the importance of accepting other people Romans 15:1-13. The story of the outcast Jephthah who was rejected because his mother was a prostitute and he was only the stepbrother of the family Judges 11:1-11.

 

  1. Disappointment, the emotion expressed by the rich young ruler Mark 10:21, the people’s feelings after the construction of the temple Haggai 1:9, Proverbs 15:22.

 

  1. Remorse, David's personal sin Psalms 31:51, guilt of Judas Matthew 27:35, Ezra's shame Ch. 9.

 

  1. Contempt, Psalms 119:22, Psalms 123:3-4.

 

  1. Aggression National aggression Assyria against Israel 2 Kings 15:19, Arameans attack Israel 1 Kings 20:6. Cain's aggression against Abel, Genesis 4:8.

 

  1. Optimism in time of persecution, Jeremiah 48:47.  Job through his trials Job 8:21.

 

  1. Sadness David's grief over his dead son 2 Samuel 18:19-33.  The psalmist's weeping through the night Psalm 30:5. Joseph saw that the butler and baker were sad, Genesis 40:6-711.

 

  1. Disgust, expressed by Paul with the unbelieving Jews, Acts 18:56.

 

  1. Anger, the danger of a hot temper, Proverbs 22:24-25. Jacob angry with his uncle Laban, Genesis 31:36.  Balaam angry with his donkey, Numbers 22:27.  Jonathan angry with his father, 1 Samuel 29:4.  King Ahasuerus furious with Queen Vashti. Esther 1:10-22

 

  1. Submission, Hagar had to submit to her mistress Genesis 16:9. Christians submitting themselves to one another, Ephesians 5:20. Submitting to God, resisting the devil James 4:7.

 

  1. Anticipation, the people dug ditches preparing to receive the promised water, 2 Kings 3:15-17. Abraham anticipated the salvation of the Jews and gentiles by faith, Galatians 3:6-9.

 

  1. Joy, Apostle Paul was joyful, Philippians 4:1-23. Spiritual joy superior to material blessings, Psalms 4:7.

 

Learn more about emotions

In 2017 a  University of California, Berkeley study identified 27 distinct categories of emotions. 

https://news.berkeley.edu/2017/09/06/27-emotions/#:~:text=The%2027%20emotions:%20admiration%2C%20adoration,semantic%20atlas%20of%20human%20emotions.