BibleInTonguesBible glossary
Anxiety
When the Bible speaks of anxiety, it usually means the inner churning of a heart bracing for need, loss, or what tomorrow might bring. The vocabulary ranges from being "anxious" in Matthew 6 and Philippians 4 to a heart "weighed down" in Proverbs 12:25, and the texts consistently move from naming the worry to handing it over.
Key passages to read
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Use this page as a starting point, then keep reading in the full chapter.
Common confusion to avoid
These are the most common ways this term gets flattened, softened, or used out of context.
- Do not turn this term into baptized self-help or mere personal improvement.
- Do not read it as if it can be understood well without reverence, obedience, and biblical context.
Read these terms together
These neighboring terms keep this definition anchored in the wider biblical picture.
The words behind it
The English "anxious" in the WEB translation renders ideas of being divided or pulled apart by concern. Jesus repeats it in Matthew 6 about food, drink, clothing, and tomorrow, while Philippians 4:6 commands "in nothing be anxious."
Proverbs 12:25 gives the picture from inside the body: "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down." The worry is felt as heaviness, which is why the same passage names "a kind word" as what lifts it.
Not the same as reverent fear
Scripture distinguishes anxious dread from the "fear of the LORD," which is awe and trust. Psalm 56:3 holds both together: "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you" — fear is real, but it becomes the doorway to trust rather than its replacement.
So the Bible never simply commands the feeling away. It treats anxiety as something to be carried to God, as in 1 Peter 5:7, where readers cast their worries on him "because he cares for you."
Use this term for better reading
Use these prompts if you want to slow down and turn this page into actual Bible reading.
- 1.After reading this definition of Anxiety, which key passage do you need to open in full first?
- 2.Where are you oversimplifying this term or using it outside its biblical context?
- 3.Which related page would best move you from definition into real reading: a question, a topic, or a guide?
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