Scripture links patience with waiting for the Lord like a farmer waits for harvest (James 5:7-8), rejoicing in hope and continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12), and preferring the "patient in spirit" over the proud (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Through patience and comfort of the scriptures we have hope (Romans 15:4).
Patience in the King James Bible is often "longsuffering" or enduring delay without quitting. These twelve passages are about waiting well—on God, on people, and under pressure—distinct from the fruit-of-the-Spirit overview and from never-giving-up's race imagery.
Wait for the Lord
1. James 5:7-8
"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."
Be patient unto the coming of the Lord, like a farmer waiting for the early and latter rain. Establish your hearts; the coming of the Lord draws nigh.
2. Psalms 40:1
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Waiting patiently is met by God's hearing.
3. Romans 8:25
"But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
If we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Hope and patience travel together.
4. Psalms 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. Waiting is active trust, not empty delay.
Patient in spirit
5. Ecclesiastes 7:8
"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning; better the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit. Patience outranks pride.
6. 1 Corinthians 13:4
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
Charity (love) "suffereth long" and is kind. Patience is woven into the Bible's definition of love itself.
7. Romans 12:12
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Patience sits between hope and prayer in Christian habits.
8. Ephesians 4:2
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Patience is how we bear with people.
Patience under pressure
9. Romans 15:4
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
Things written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Scripture itself trains patience.
10. Colossians 1:11
"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"
Strengthened with all might unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Divine strength produces patient endurance with joy.
11. 2 Peter 3:9
"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."
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise; He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish. God's own patience models ours.
12. Luke 21:19
"In your patience possess ye your souls."
"In your patience possess ye your souls." Endurance under pressure is how disciples keep their lives steady.
A short prayer
Lord, make me patient in spirit. Teach me to wait on You without fretting, to be longsuffering with others, and to keep praying while I wait for what I do not yet see. Strengthen me unto all patience with joyfulness. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible verse about patience?
James 5:7-8, Romans 12:12, Ecclesiastes 7:8, and Psalm 27:14 are among the most cited.
Where does the Bible say "be patient" like a farmer?
James 5:7-8 compares waiting for the Lord to a farmer waiting for precious fruit and rain.
What does longsuffering mean in the KJV?
Longsuffering means patient endurance—bearing delay or offense without quick retaliation. It appears in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and in descriptions of God's character.
Is patience the same as never giving up?
They overlap. Patience emphasizes waiting well and longsuffering with people; never-giving-up emphasizes finishing the race and not growing weary in well doing.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: fruit of the Spirit Bible verses · Bible verses about never giving up · Bible verses on hope · Bible verses about anger · Bible verses about peace
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