Bible Verses About Patience

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit and a mark of love. These verses about patience steady us to wait on God's timing.

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” — James 5:7-8 (KJV)

Be patient as the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit, and hath long patience for it. The comparison is agricultural: waiting is skilled work with a known season.

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” — Ecclesiastes 7:8 (KJV)

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning, and the patient in spirit better than the proud. Patience and pride are set as opposites, which is unexpected.

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” — Proverbs 16:32 (KJV)

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Self-government is rated above military conquest.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” — James 1:19 (KJV)

Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath — three speeds prescribed in one sentence. The order matters: listening first.

“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” — Lamentations 3:25-26 (KJV)

Good that a man should both hope and quietly wait, written among the ruins of Jerusalem. Quietly is the word doing the work.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise but is longsuffering — divine delay is reinterpreted as patience toward people. It answers scoffers asking where the promise is.

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” — Isaiah 30:18 (KJV)

Therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious — God is described as waiting too. The verse ends by calling those who wait for him blessed.

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” — Romans 15:5 (KJV)

The God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded — patience is requested for the sake of unity. It is prayed over a congregation divided about food and days.

“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” — Hebrews 6:15 (KJV)

After he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise — said of Abraham, who waited twenty-five years. The verb order is preserved deliberately.

“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” — Proverbs 14:29 (KJV)

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. Patience is treated as a form of intelligence.

“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” — Proverbs 15:18 (KJV)

A wrathful man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. The proverb assigns the outcome of a quarrel to one person's tempo.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” — Galatians 5:22 (KJV)

Longsuffering is listed among the fruit of the Spirit, between peace and gentleness. Fruit implies growth over time rather than a decision.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” — 1 Timothy 1:16 (KJV)

Paul says he obtained mercy so that Christ might shew forth all longsuffering in him as a pattern. He offers his own case as the extreme example.

“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” — Psalm 130:6 (KJV)

My soul waiteth more than they that watch for the morning — repeated, as watchmen count the hours. The comparison is to people whose job is waiting.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Patience here is agreement with timing rather than endurance of it.

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” — Romans 2:4 (KJV)

The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance — his forbearance is described as having a purpose. Patience is not indifference.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about patience?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on patience: James 5:7-8, Ecclesiastes 7:8, Proverbs 16:32, James 1:19, Lamentations 3:25-26, 2 Peter 3:9, Isaiah 30:18, Romans 15:5, Hebrews 6:15, Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 15:18, Galatians 5:22, 1 Timothy 1:16, Psalm…

What is a good Bible verse about patience?

James 5:7-8 is the passage most often quoted on patience, with Ecclesiastes 7:8 and Proverbs 16:32 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these patience verses?

You can read all of these verses about patience — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.