Bible Verses About Grudges

"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."

"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."

"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

"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."

"Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."

"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

What does the Bible say about grudges?

A grudge is unforgiveness put on slow simmer — it stays warm, always ready to boil over. The Bible is clear: holding grudges is incompatible with following Christ. Key King James Version passages include Ephesians 4:31-32, Leviticus 19:18, Colossians 3:13. This page collects 10 KJV verses about grudges, each quoted in full.

Is holding a grudge a sin?

Yes. Leviticus 19:18 explicitly commands 'thou shalt not bear any grudge,' and James 5:9 warns 'grudge not one against another, brethren.' Grudges are a form of unforgiveness, which Jesus warns blocks our own experience of God's forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15).

How do I let go of a grudge?

Release grudges through prayer (Mark 11:25), choosing to forgive as Christ forgave you (Colossians 3:13), surrendering the desire for revenge to God (Romans 12:19), and asking God to remove bitterness from your heart (Hebrews 12:15). Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling.