"'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
— Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)
Ephesians 4:26-27 is the "be angry and sin not" and "don't let the sun go down on your anger" passage, often quoted to couples and families. This page gives the verses, what the key words mean, where they sit in Ephesians 4, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about anger, Love and anger, and Bible verses about forgiveness.
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The verses
The King James reads: "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil."
"Be angry" is orgizō (G3710), to be provoked or become angry. "Sin" is hamartanō (G264), to miss the mark. "Sun" is hēlios (G2246). The word for the anger you are not to keep overnight (KJV "wrath") is parorgismos (G3950), an irritated, provoked state. "Foothold" (KJV "place") is topos (G5117), a spot or room, and "devil" is diabolos (G1228), the accuser or slanderer.
Where it sits in Ephesians 4
Paul is describing the new life: "put off your old self" and "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24). The verse right before is about honest speech: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body" (Ephesians 4:25).
A few verses later the same chapter covers words and kindness: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" (Ephesians 4:29), then "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander" (Ephesians 4:31), and "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
What the verses are saying
The opening line quotes Psalm 4:4 as it read in the Greek Old Testament. Paul does not say anger itself is always sin. He says anger is a place where sin can start, so it has to be handled.
The handling has a time limit. "Do not let the sun go down" means deal with it today: talk, settle it, or bring it to God before it hardens. Anger kept overnight becomes resentment, and resentment gives the devil room to work in a relationship. Verse 31 shows where unresolved anger goes if it is left alone: bitterness, rage, and slander.
Questions people ask
What does Ephesians 4:26 say?
In the NIV it says, "'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." The KJV says, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath."
What does "be angry and sin not" mean?
It means anger can be felt without being acted on in a sinful way. Paul allows that people will get angry and warns them not to let it turn into harsh words, revenge, or a grudge.
Does "don't let the sun go down on your anger" mean you must settle every fight before bed?
The point is not to let anger sit and harden. Sometimes that means talking it through the same day; sometimes it means calmly agreeing to finish tomorrow and letting go of the grudge tonight.
What does "do not give the devil a foothold" mean?
A foothold is a place to stand. Anger that is kept and fed gives the devil a place to work in your heart and relationships, through bitterness, division, and slander.
What verses go with Ephesians 4:26-27?
James 1:19-20 (slow to become angry), Ephesians 4:32 (be kind and forgive), and Proverbs 15:1 (a gentle answer turns away wrath) are close companions.
