Bible Verses About Gossip and the Tongue

King James Version · 16 passages

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Scripture treats words as weighty things: a talebearer separates chief friends, a great fire is kindled by a little member, and every idle word must be given account of. These passages will teach you to set a watch before your mouth and to keep the door of your lips.

Proverbs 18:21

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

James 3:5–8

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! a matter: or, wood 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. course: Gr. wheel 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: kind: Gr. nature mankind: Gr. nature of man 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

See also: Psalms 120:2 · Proverbs 18:21 · Proverbs 16:27 · Romans 3:13

Proverbs 16:28

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. soweth: Heb. sendeth forth

See also: Proverbs 17:9 · James 3:14 · Romans 1:29 · Proverbs 18:8

Ephesians 4:29

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. to...: or, to edify profitably

Proverbs 11:13

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. A talebearer: Heb. He that walketh, being a talebearer

Proverbs 26:20

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Where no...: Heb. Without wood talebearer: or, whisperer ceaseth: Heb. is silent

See also: Proverbs 16:28 · Proverbs 22:10 · James 3:6 · Proverbs 26:22

Psalms 141:3

3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

See also: James 1:26 · Psalms 39:1 · Micah 7:5 · Psalms 34:13

Proverbs 21:23

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

See also: Proverbs 13:3 · Proverbs 18:21 · Proverbs 17:27 · James 1:26

Matthew 12:36–37

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Proverbs 10:19

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

See also: James 1:19 · James 3:2 · Proverbs 17:27 · Ecclesiastes 10:13

James 1:26

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

See also: Ephesians 4:29 · Psalms 141:3 · 1 Peter 3:10 · Ephesians 5:4

Proverbs 20:19

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. flattereth: or, enticeth

1 Peter 3:10

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

See also: Psalms 34:12 · James 1:26 · 1 Peter 2:1 · 1 Peter 2:22

Proverbs 15:4

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. A wholesome...: Heb. The healing of the tongue

Titus 3:1–2

1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Psalms 34:13–14

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

See also: Psalms 37:27 · 1 Peter 3:11 · Hebrews 12:14 · 3 John 1:11