What Does the Bible Say About Unkind Words?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 81 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 12:18 ESV / 50 helpful votes

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 41 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

James 1:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Matthew 12:35 ESV / 23 helpful votes

The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

James 3:10 ESV / 22 helpful votes

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:8 ESV / 21 helpful votes

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Matthew 12:37 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Luke 6:45 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Matthew 5:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

James 3:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James 3:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

James 3:1-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ...

Philippians 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Psalm 32:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Exodus 20:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Revelation 21:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

James 2:14-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ...

Colossians 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Revelation 12:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Matthew 24:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

36 Bible Verses about Unkind Words

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 81 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 27 helpful votes

James 1:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Matthew 12:35 ESV / 23 helpful votes

James 3:10 ESV / 22 helpful votes

James 3:8 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Matthew 12:37 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Luke 6:45 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Matthew 5:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

James 3:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

James 3:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

James 3:1-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Philippians 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Psalm 32:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Exodus 20:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 21:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

James 2:14-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Colossians 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 12:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 24:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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36 Bible Verses about Unkind Words

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 81 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 50 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 41 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 35 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 27 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:35 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:10 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:8 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:37 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:45 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:1-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 32:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 21:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:14-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 12:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 81 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 27 helpful votes

James 1:19 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Matthew 12:35 ESV / 23 helpful votes

James 3:10 ESV / 22 helpful votes

James 3:8 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Matthew 12:37 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Luke 6:45 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Matthew 5:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

James 3:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

James 3:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

James 3:1-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Philippians 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Psalm 32:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Exodus 20:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 21:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

James 2:14-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Colossians 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 12:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 24:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes