How many times is patience mentioned in the Bible?
The word patience appears 34 times in the King James Version, in 33 verses. Counting every form (patience, patient, patiently), it appears 49 times in 46 verses across 18 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses patience 15 times (35 with every form).
Patience in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of patience counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| patience | 34 | 15 |
| patient | 9 | 12 |
| patiently | 6 | 8 |
| Total | 49 | 35 |
Which books mention patience most
Patience appears in 18 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Romans, James and Revelation share the most, 7 each.
Also in: Acts (1), Colossians (1), Titus (1).
First and last mention of patience
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The verse that uses it most is James 5:7, 2 times (tied with 1 Peter 2:20, 2 Peter 1:6):
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.
Where the two translations differ
31 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 17 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Luke 8:15: counted in the KJV only
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.
Luke 21:19: counted in the KJV only
In your patience possess ye your souls.
“By your endurance you will win your lives.
Job 6:11: counted in the World English Bible only
What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
Proverbs 25:15: counted in the World English Bible only
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
Verses with patience on our topic pages
14 verses that use patience in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
On: Hope, Patience, Waiting, Perseverance
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;
On: Marriage, Patience, Humility, Relationships
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
On: Patience, Salvation, Mercy, Repentance
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
On: Patience
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
On: Patience
However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
On: Patience
preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
On: Patience
Common questions
How many times is patience in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 3 of the 49 uses are in the Old Testament and 46 in the New Testament. Patience appears in 18 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Romans, James and Revelation share the most, 7 each.
Where is patience first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Psalm 37:7: "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." The last is Revelation 14:12.
Read the full collection: Bible Verses About Patience (32 Verses).
More word counts: obey, worship, praise, sabbath, tithe, marriage, divorce, healing, or all 107 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-02.