ὀργίζω

Pronunciation Guide: or-GHID-zo

Quick Answer: ὀργίζω (orgizō) means “to be angry” or “to become provoked,” describing both human emotional response and God’s righteous indignation against sin. Unlike sinful anger, biblical anger often calls us toward justice and righteousness when properly channeled.

1. What Does ὀργίζω Mean?

Strong’s G3710: ὀργίζω fundamentally means “to provoke to anger,” “to enrage,” or in the passive voice (which is how it typically appears in the New Testament), “to be angry,” “to become exasperated,” or “to be provoked to wrath.” This Greek verb describes the internal stirring of emotion that leads to anger, whether justified or unjustified. The word encompasses both the initial provocation and the resulting emotional state, indicating not merely a fleeting irritation but a deeper indignation that can lead to action.

Key Insight: Biblical anger through ὀργίζω often serves as a divine catalyst, revealing both human frailty and God’s passion for righteousness and justice.

2. Where Does ὀργίζω Come From?

• Part of speech: Verb (deponent, typically used in passive form)
• Root word: From ὀργή (orgē) meaning “wrath,” “anger,” or “violent passion”
• Language origin: Classical Greek, used extensively in ancient Greek literature
• Primary usage: Found in both narrative and teaching passages of Scripture

3. What Is the History of ὀργίζω?

The word ὀργίζω has ancient roots in classical Greek literature, appearing in the works of renowned tragedians like Sophocles, Euripides, and Thucydides. These classical authors used the term to describe the passionate anger of gods and heroes in their dramatic works, often portraying anger as a force that could lead to both destruction and justice. In classical tragedy, characters who became ὀργίζω often faced dramatic consequences, reflecting the Greeks’ understanding that uncontrolled anger could be catastrophic.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, ὀργίζω was used to translate several Hebrew words including חָרָה (charah, meaning “to burn with anger”) and קָצַף (qatsaph, meaning “to be wrathful”). This translation work, completed by Jewish scholars in Alexandria between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, established ὀργίζω as the primary Greek term for expressing divine and human anger in biblical contexts. Early church fathers continued this usage, understanding that anger itself was not inherently sinful but could be either righteous or unrighteous depending on its cause and expression.

Historical Summary: ὀργίζω traveled from Greek drama to biblical translation, evolving from describing heroic passion to expressing both divine justice and human moral response.

4. How Should ὀργίζω Be Translated?

• To be angry – The most common and direct translation
• To become wrathful – Emphasizing the transition into anger
• To be provoked – Highlighting the external catalyst
• To be enraged – Indicating intense anger
• To be indignant – Suggesting righteous anger

Translation Tip: Context determines whether ὀργίζω refers to righteous indignation (as in divine anger against sin) or sinful human anger that needs restraint.

ὀργίζω Translation Options:

• “Be angry” – Best for passages emphasizing the emotional state itself, as in Ephesians 4:26
• “Became wrathful” – Appropriate when describing a sudden onset of anger, particularly in narrative passages
• “Was provoked” – Useful when the external cause of anger is emphasized
• “Grew indignant” – Suitable for contexts where moral outrage is the primary focus
• “Was enraged” – For passages describing intense, overwhelming anger

5. How Is ὀργίζω Used in the Bible?

Throughout the New Testament, ὀργίζω appears eight times, revealing fascinating patterns about anger in biblical teaching. The word appears in both Jesus’s teachings about anger and in parables describing human relationships. Notably, it occurs in the Messiah’s revolutionary teaching in Matthew 5:22, where He addresses the spiritual danger of anger between brothers, and in Ephesians 4:26, where Paul provides crucial instruction about righteous anger.

In the Septuagint, ὀργίζω appears much more frequently, translating Hebrew concepts of divine wrath and human anger throughout the Old Testament narrative. These appearances often describe יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) righteous anger against sin and injustice, as well as human anger that sometimes aligns with God’s purposes and sometimes opposes them. The Septuagint usage establishes the theological foundation for understanding anger as a legitimate emotional response that must be carefully directed toward righteous ends.

Usage Summary: ὀργίζω appears primarily in teaching contexts about managing anger and in narratives describing both divine justice and human moral responses.

• “But I say to you that everyone who is angry [ὀργίζω] with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Matthew 5:22
• “And his master was angry [ὀργίζω] and handed him over to the torturers.” Matthew 18:34
• “But when the king heard about it, he was angry [ὀργίζω] and sent his armies.” Matthew 22:7
• “Then the master of the house became angry [ὀργίζω] and said to his servant.” Luke 14:21
• “And he became angry [ὀργίζω] and was unwilling to go in.” Luke 15:28
• “Be angry [ὀργίζω] and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Ephesians 4:26
• “And the nations were angry [ὀργίζω], and Your wrath came.” Revelation 11:18
• “So the dragon was angry [ὀργίζω] with the woman.” Revelation 12:17

6. What Cultural Context Surrounds ὀργίζω?

In ancient Jewish culture, anger was understood through the lens of righteousness and justice rather than merely as an emotion to be suppressed. The Hebrew concept behind many instances of ὀργίζω relates to חָרָה (charah), which literally means “to burn” or “to kindle,” suggesting that righteous anger was seen as a fire that could either purify or destroy depending on how it was channeled. Ancient Jewish wisdom literature taught that there was a time for anger – particularly when confronting injustice, idolatry, or oppression of the vulnerable.

The Greek cultural context adds another layer of understanding. In Greek thought, particularly as expressed in tragedy and philosophy, anger was often portrayed as a divine emotion that could lead to both judgment and restoration. The Greeks understood that the gods’ anger was typically provoked by hubris (prideful rebellion) and could only be appeased through proper sacrifice or repentance. This cultural background helps explain why the New Testament writers were comfortable using ὀργίζω to describe both divine and human anger, provided it served the cause of justice rather than selfish ambition.

Cultural Context: Ancient cultures viewed righteous anger as a necessary response to injustice, while warning against anger that served selfish rather than divine purposes.

7. What Does ὀργίζω Teach Us About God?

The use of ὀργίζω in Scripture reveals profound truths about God’s character that beautifully balance His love with His justice. When we see divine anger expressed through this word, we witness not the petty irritation of a temperamental deity, but the holy indignation of perfect Love confronting that which destroys His beloved creation. God’s anger, unlike human anger, is never selfish, never uncontrolled, and never unjust. It burns against sin precisely because sin separates us from the abundant life He desires for us.

Furthermore, ὀργίζω teaches us that God’s anger is always redemptive in purpose. Even in passages like Revelation 11:18 where nations face divine wrath, the context reveals God’s ultimate goal of establishing His kingdom of righteousness and peace. His anger serves His love, burning away everything that prevents His children from experiencing the fullness of relationship with Him. This understanding transforms our view of divine justice from something to fear into something to embrace as the necessary pathway to true peace and restoration.

Theological Core: God’s ὀργίζω reveals His passionate commitment to justice and righteousness, demonstrating that true love must oppose whatever destroys the beloved.

8. How Can I Apply ὀργίζω to My Life?

Understanding ὀργίζω calls us to examine our own anger with spiritual wisdom and courage. Ephesians 4:26 provides the crucial framework: “Be angry and do not sin.” This verse acknowledges that anger itself is not sinful – indeed, there are times when failing to be angry would indicate a hardened heart toward injustice. The key is ensuring our anger aligns with God’s heart for righteousness rather than serving our own pride or selfish desires.

When we feel the stirring of ὀργίζω within us, we can ask ourselves: “Is this anger rooted in love for God and others, or in wounded pride? Does it motivate me toward constructive action that serves God’s kingdom, or does it drive me toward destructive responses that harm relationships?” True biblical anger leads us to intercession, to advocacy for the vulnerable, to confronting sin with truth spoken in love, and to working for justice and reconciliation.

Self-Examination Questions: What provokes my anger most quickly? Does my anger lead me toward God’s purposes or away from them? How can I channel righteous anger into constructive action that serves God’s kingdom?

9. What Words Are Similar to ὀργίζω?

• θυμός (thumos) – “Passionate anger, fury” – A more intense, explosive form of anger that emphasizes the emotional heat of the moment. See G2372
• ὀργή (orgē) – “Wrath, anger” – The noun form referring to settled anger or indignation, often used of divine wrath. See G3709
• παροργίζω (parorgizō) – “To provoke to anger” – Specifically means to make someone angry through one’s actions. See G3949
• χολάω (cholaō) – “To be angry, wrathful” – Less common word emphasizing bile or bitter anger. See G5520
• πικραίνω (pikrainō) – “To embitter, make bitter” – Related to anger that becomes resentful or bitter. See G4087

10. Did you Know?

• What does ὀργίζω mean in modern Greek? In contemporary Greek, the word retains its basic meaning of “to anger” or “to make angry,” but is more commonly used to describe everyday irritation rather than the profound moral indignation often seen in biblical contexts.
• How did Sophocles use ὀργίζω? The great Greek tragedian Sophocles used ὀργίζω to describe the righteous anger of his tragic heroes, particularly when they confronted injustice or divine will, establishing the literary precedent for anger as a catalyst for moral action.
• What’s the difference between ὀργίζω and θυμός? While ὀργίζω can describe both momentary and settled anger, θυμός typically refers to explosive, passionate anger that flares up quickly, like a blazing fire that burns hot but may die down rapidly.
• Why does the Bible use ὀργίζω in parables? Jesus often used ὀργίζω in parables to illustrate divine justice and the serious consequences of rejecting God’s grace, helping listeners understand that God’s patience has limits and His justice is real.
• How does ὀργίζω relate to Christian sanctification? The proper handling of ὀργίζω becomes a crucial aspect of Christian maturity, as believers learn to distinguish between righteous indignation that serves God’s purposes and sinful anger that serves selfish desires.
• What causes unhealthy ὀργίζω today? Modern triggers often include perceived injustice, unmet expectations, feeling disrespected or ignored, witnessing harm to loved ones, or encountering situations that violate our deeply held values – though discernment is needed to distinguish between righteous and selfish anger.
• The Hebrew Connection: When the Septuagint translators chose ὀργίζω to render Hebrew words like חָרָה (charah), they were connecting the Greek concept of passionate anger with the Hebrew understanding of divine fire and burning indignation against sin. This linguistic bridge helped Greek-speaking Jews understand that God’s anger wasn’t like the petty wrath of pagan gods, but rather the perfect response of holiness confronting evil.

11. Remember This

ὀργίζω reminds us that anger is not the enemy of love but can be its fierce protector – when our hearts beat in rhythm with God’s passion for justice and righteousness, our anger becomes a holy fire that illuminates truth and motivates us toward the restoration He desires for His world.