What Does the Bible Say About Speaking Behind Someones Back?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 7 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Peter 2:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ...

2 Peter 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

James 4:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Titus 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Romans 15:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 17:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

John 15:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 14:1-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

John 13:34-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 8:44 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 20:45 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples,

Mark 11:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 12:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

38 Bible Verses about Speaking Behind Someones Back

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 15:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:1-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 13:34-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:44 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 20:45 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 11:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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