ὀργή

anger, wrath, passion

Definition

In the New Testament, ὀργή (orgē) primarily denotes a settled, righteous anger, especially the wrath of God against sin. It signifies not a fleeting emotion but a deliberate, judicial response to unrighteousness, as seen in Romans 1:18 where God's wrath is revealed against human ungodliness. This divine wrath often implies the resulting punishment or judgment, such as the 'coming wrath' John the Baptist warns of (Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7) or the 'day of wrath' in Romans 2:5. In a few instances, it can refer to human anger, which is generally cautioned against, as in Ephesians 4:31.

Biblical Usage

The word is used most frequently in Paul's letters (especially Romans) and Revelation to describe God's eschatological judgment. It appears in prophetic warnings (e.g., Luke 21:23), theological explanations of salvation (e.g., John 3:36, Romans 5:9), and descriptions of final punishment. A key pattern is its association with God's justice and the future 'day of judgment.' Human anger is referenced less often, such as in Mark 3:5 where Jesus looks at Pharisees with anger (orgē) over their hardness of heart.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb ὀργάω (orgaō), meaning 'to swell' or 'to teem,' it originally conveyed the idea of natural impulse or desire. Over time, it came to signify a strong passion, settling into its common New Testament meaning of anger or wrath, particularly of a settled, deliberate character.

Semantic Range

This word is central to understanding God's holiness and justice. It highlights that sin has serious consequences and that God's wrath is a consistent, righteous response to evil, not an arbitrary emotion. This concept underpins the gospel, as Christ's sacrifice delivers believers from this wrath (Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10). Understanding ὀργή as God's settled judicial stance enriches reading by clarifying why salvation through Jesus is so urgent and necessary.

In the Greco-Roman world, divine wrath was a common concept, often seen as the capricious anger of the gods. The biblical use, particularly in the New Testament, transforms this into a consistent, righteous attribute of the one true God, tied directly to His moral character and the violation of His covenant. This contrasts with modern tendencies to view all anger as inherently sinful or irrational.

θυμός (thymos, G2372) — Often denotes a more passionate, outbursting anger or fury, while ὀργή is more settled. χόλος (cholos, G5520) — Another term for bile or anger, but used very rarely in the NT. μῆνις (mēnis) — A poetic term for wrath, not used in the NT but found in the Septuagint.

Word Details

Scripture References