What the Bible says
What does the Bible say about patience?
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that reflects God’s own patience, for the Lord “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Believers are called to be patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12), to bear with one another in love, and to wait for the Lord’s coming as a farmer waits for the harvest (James 5:7-8).
Key Bible verses about patience
- James 5:7-8
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
- Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- Romans 12:12
rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer,
- 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- Colossians 3:12-13
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
- Ephesians 4:1-2
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- Psalm 37:7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
- Lamentations 3:25-26
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
- Ecclesiastes 7:8
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
- Proverbs 14:29
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
- Romans 8:25
But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
- Hebrews 6:12
that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain). Short quotations in the introduction are from the ESV. Read each passage in its chapter for the full context.