In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of irritation is often associated with actions or behaviors that provoke anger, frustration, or annoyance in others. The Bible provides guidance on how to manage and avoid such provocations, emphasizing the importance of peace, patience, and understanding in relationships.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently addresses the consequences of irritating others, particularly in the context of familial and community relationships. Proverbs 15:1 states, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This verse highlights the power of words to either calm or provoke, urging believers to choose their words carefully to avoid unnecessary irritation.

In the account of Hannah and Peninnah in 1 Samuel 1, Peninnah's constant provocation of Hannah over her barrenness serves as an example of how irritation can lead to deep emotional distress. This narrative underscores the importance of compassion and sensitivity towards others' vulnerabilities.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues to address the theme of irritation, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. In Ephesians 4:26-27 , Paul advises, "Be angry, yet do not sin. Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold." Here, the apostle acknowledges that anger can be a natural response to irritation but warns against allowing it to lead to sin or prolonged discord.

Colossians 3:21 specifically instructs fathers, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged." This verse highlights the responsibility of parents to nurture their children without causing unnecessary frustration or irritation, which can lead to discouragement and resentment.

Practical Applications

The Bible encourages believers to cultivate patience and self-control as antidotes to irritation. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit, including patience and self-control, as qualities that should be evident in the life of a Christian. By developing these virtues, believers can better manage their responses to potentially irritating situations and foster harmonious relationships.

James 1:19 offers practical advice: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." This counsel promotes active listening and thoughtful communication as means to prevent irritation and maintain peace.

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges that irritation is a common human experience, it provides clear guidance on how to handle it in a manner that aligns with Christian values. By prioritizing love, patience, and understanding, believers are called to minimize irritation in their interactions and reflect the character of Christ in their daily lives.1. (v. t.) To annoy; to inflame; to render null and void.

2. (v. t.) To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate.

3. (v. t.) To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects.

4. (v. t.) To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract. See Irritation, n., 2.

5. (n.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage.

6. (a.) Excited; heightened.

3893. parapikraino -- to embitter, provoke
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: parapikraino Phonetic Spelling: (par-ap-ik-
rah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I embitter, provoke, irritate Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3893.htm - 6k

3947. paroxuno -- to sharpen, fig. to stimulate, to provoke
... to stimulate, to provoke. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paroxuno Phonetic
Spelling: (par-ox-oo'-no) Short Definition: I provoke, irritate Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3947.htm - 7k

3710. orgizo -- to make angry
... to make angry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: orgizo Phonetic Spelling:
(or-gid'-zo) Short Definition: I irritate, provoke, am angry Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3710.htm - 7k

2042. erethizo -- to stir up
... erethizo Phonetic Spelling: (er-eth-id'-zo) Short Definition: I stir up, provoke
Definition: I stir up, arouse to anger, provoke, irritate, incite. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2042.htm - 6k

4292. prokaleo -- to call forth, challenge
... provoke. Middle voice from pro and kaleo; to call forth to oneself (challenge),
ie (by implication) to irritate -- provoke. see GREEK pro. see GREEK kaleo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4292.htm - 6k

7481. raam -- to thunder
... Word Origin denominative verb from raam Definition to thunder NASB Word Usage irritate
(1), roar (3), thunder (2), thundered (3), thunders (3), troubled (1). ...
/hebrew/7481.htm - 6k

4834. marats -- to be sick
... A primitive root; properly, to press, ie (figuratively) to be pungent or vehement;
to irritate -- embolden, be forcible, grievous, sore. 4833, 4834. ...
/hebrew/4834.htm - 6k

The Idumeans Being Sent for by the Zealots, came Immediately to ...
... But now, that he might particularly irritate the leaders of the zealots, he calumniated
Ananus, that he was about a piece of barbarity, and did in a special ...
/.../chapter 4 the idumeans being.htm

The Ten Commandments
... We must fear and love God, so that we will neither look down on our parents or
superiors nor irritate them, but will honor them, serve them, obey them, love ...
/.../luther/the small catechism of martin luther/i the ten commandments.htm

The Burning of Athens.
... which they had made into the Phocaean territory, they had been defeated by means
of stratagems in a manner which tended greatly to vex and irritate them. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter x the burning of.htm

The Next Season
... Is it not a shame and a reproach that you should be outdone by them? 6. Avoid
every thing which is calculated to irritate your feelings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/viii the next season.htm

First Degree of Prayer --Meditation and Meditative Reading --The ...
... This is a short and efficacious way of fighting with distractions; because those
who endeavour directly to oppose them, irritate and increase them; but by ...
/.../a short method of prayer and spiritual torrents/chapter ii first degree of.htm

Care of the Speaker's Throat
... throat. It must be obvious, therefore, that the constant inhaling of smoke
must even more directly irritate the mucous membrane. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/care of the speakers throat.htm

Of Perfect Conversion, which is an Effect of this Method of Prayer ...
... When the passions rise, a look towards God, who is present within us, easily deadens
them. Any other resistance would irritate rather than appease them. ...
/.../chapter ix of perfect conversion.htm

The Method of Prayer
... in recalling our dissipated senses, as the most easy method of overcoming distractions;
for a direct contest and opposition only serves to irritate and augment ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/chapter ii the method of.htm

Instructions to Converts.
... a peculiar service, that it seems something was indispensable to fit him for it,
and make him such a saint, that future opposition would not irritate him, nor ...
/.../lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xix instructions to converts.htm

D. The Fourth Commandment
... A. We must fear and love God, so that we will neither look down on our parents or
superiors nor irritate them, but will honor them, serve them, obey them, love ...
/.../luther/luthers little instruction book/d the fourth commandment.htm

Irritate (2 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is
irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage. ...
/i/irritate.htm - 7k

Vex (20 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To make angry or annoyed by little provocations; to irritate; to plague;
to torment; to harass; to afflict; to trouble; to tease. ...
/v/vex.htm - 14k

Nettle (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To fret or sting; also a plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute
sharp hairs; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of ...
/n/nettle.htm - 8k

Grate (6 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything rough or indented;
as, to grate a nutmeg. 7. (vt) To fret; to irritate; to offend. ...
/g/grate.htm - 10k

Irritable (2 Occurrences)

/i/irritable.htm - 7k

Irritated (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Irritate. Multi-Version Concordance
Irritated (2 Occurrences). Proverbs 19:3 The folly of ...
/i/irritated.htm - 7k

Inflame (3 Occurrences)
... as, to inflame desire. 3. (vt) To provoke to anger or rage; to exasperate;
to irritate; to incense; to enrage. 4. (vt) To put in ...
/i/inflame.htm - 8k

Importune (1 Occurrence)
... request or solicit, with urgency; to press with frequent demands, unreasonable or
troublesome application or pertinacity; hence, to tease; to irritate; to worry ...
/i/importune.htm - 7k

Fret (9 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple; as, to fret
the surface of water. 6. (vt) To tease; to irritate; to vex. ...
/f/fret.htm - 13k

Fire (602 Occurrences)
... fire pottery. 12. (vt) To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to
fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge. 13. (vt) To ...
/f/fire.htm - 78k

What does the Bible say about Christian fathers? | GotQuestions.org

Irritate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus