How many times is worry mentioned in the Bible?
The word worry does not appear in the King James Version. The World English Bible uses it 2 times, and 3 times counting worry, worries.
The World English Bible's usual word for worry is anxious, as in Matthew 6:25, "don't be anxious for your life". The KJV says take no thought.
Worry in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of worry counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| worry | 0 | 2 |
| worries | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 0 | 3 |
First and last mention of worry
They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward,
casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
Where the two translations differ
0 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 3 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Isaiah 8:21: counted in the World English Bible only
And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward,
Matthew 28:14: counted in the World English Bible only
And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
Common questions
How many times is worry in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the World English Bible, counting every form, 1 of the 3 uses are in the Old Testament and 2 in the New Testament. Worry appears in 3 books of the 66 in the World English Bible. It is used once each in Isaiah, Matthew and 1 Peter.
Where is worry first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the World English Bible is Isaiah 8:21: "They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward," The last is 1 Peter 5:7.
Read the full collection: Bible Verses About Worry (43 Verses).
More word counts: anxious, fear, peace, trust, rest, sin, Israel, David, 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.