Words have a lot of power.
What we say can either build people up or tear them down.
Our tongues have the power to encourage, comfort, uplift, and heal.
However, it also has the power to hurt, break, destroy, and kill.
As Christians, we must be mindful of what we say because the Bible has a lot to say about the tongue and words.
In this article, we will be looking at 25 important Bible verses about the tongue and words, and their meanings so that we can apply that knowledge to our lives in order to honor God.
1. Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21
This verse reminds us that our words have consequences. We must be careful what we say because our words carry power; they can either bring life or bring death.
2. Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
This verse shows us that our words can have a critical effect. We must choose our words carefully when interacting with people because our words can either soothe or inflame a situation.
3. James 1:19
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” – James 1:19
This verse teaches us to be disciplined in how we use our words.
We should listen more than we speak, take time to carefully think through what we say, and avoid anger when expressing ourselves.
4. Matthew 12:36-37
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37
This verse reminds us of the weight of our words. We must take them seriously because our words can bring either condemnation or justification.
5. Proverbs 21:23
“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” – Proverbs 21:23
This verse teaches us that sometimes it is better to remain quiet. When we control our tongue and keep our words to ourselves, we save ourselves from falling into trouble.
6. Proverbs 10:19
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” – Proverbs 10:19
This verse reminds us that too much talking can lead to trouble. We should learn to be wise with how we use our words and learn to restrain ourselves.
7. Proverbs 11:9
“With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.” – Proverbs 11:9
This verse shows us the power of destructive speech. We should speak life instead of tearing people down.
8. Matthew 15:11
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” – Matthew 15:11
This verse tells us that what we say is more critical than what we eat or drink. Our words can either bring us closer to God or pull us away from Him.
9. James 3:6
“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.” – James 3:6
This verse teaches us that our words have the power to defile us. We must be careful not to let our tongues lead us astray.
10. Proverbs 12:18
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18
This verse shows us the power of our words to hurt or heal. We should strive to speak wisdom and bring healing instead of causing harm.
11. Ephesians 4:29
“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.” – Ephesians 4:29
This verse teaches us to be intentional with our words. We should speak in ways that build up others and provide grace to those who hear.
12. Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
This verse shows us that our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts. We should seek to have our words and hearts aligned with God’s will.
13. Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” – Proverbs 16:24
This verse teaches us that our words have the power to bring refreshment and healing to others. We should use our words to bless others.
14. Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” – Colossians 4:6
This verse suggests that our words should have a distinctive flavor – the type that serves others well. We should aim to make our speech gracious and considerate.
15. Proverbs 17:28
“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” – Proverbs 17:28
This verse reminds us that sometimes it is wise to remain quiet – rather than speaking at the wrong time. By keeping silent, we may be deemed wiser than those who talk too often.
16. Proverbs 13:3
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” – Proverbs 13:3
This verse teaches us to be careful with what we say. We must take actions to avoid saying things we’ll later regret.
17. James 4:11
“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 4:11
This verse tells us to avoid speaking evil against others. We should avoid being judgmental when we talk about others, as this does more harm than good.
18. Proverbs 18:6
“A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.” – Proverbs 18:6
This verse teaches us the danger of speaking without thinking. We should be mindful of our words and the impact they have on others.
19. Proverbs 14:29
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” – Proverbs 14:29
This verse teaches us to be patient with ourselves and others. We should avoid letting anger control our words.
20. Proverbs 25:11
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” – Proverbs 25:11
This verse teaches us about the value of well-timed and well-spoken words. We must aim to be strategic with our words, maximizing their impact with a thoughtful approach.
21. Proverbs 15:28
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” – Proverbs 15:28
This verse teaches us the importance of thoughtful reflection before we speak. We should take the time to ponder our words and the impact they will have before opening our mouths.
22. Proverbs 29:20
“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” – Proverbs 29:20
This verse reminds us to be mindful and thoughtful with our words. We should avoid acting hastily and saying things without considering what they might mean in the context of our relationships.
23. Proverbs 10:32
“The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.” – Proverbs 10:32
This verse teaches us about the importance of having a moral compass for our words. We should strive to speak things that are good, true, and wise.
24. Proverbs 17:13
“If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.” – Proverbs 17:13
This verse shows us the powerful ways in which words can cause harm. We should avoid being people who seek revenge or speak words that hurt others.
25. Matthew 5:37
“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” – Matthew 5:37
This verse teaches us that simplicity in our language can be a good thing.
We should aim to speak clearly and directly, avoiding complicated or manipulative language that seeks to hide our true intentions.
What Bible scriptures talk about the power of the tongue?
The Bible has some powerful words of wisdom when it comes to our tongues.
In James 3:5-6, it says that the tongue is a small part of the body but can boast of great things. It’s like a small spark that can cause a massive fire.
And in Proverbs 18:21, it reminds us that our words have the power of life and death.
Other verses that discuss the power of the tongue include Psalm 141:3, and Matthew 12:36-37.
It’s clear that the Bible places great importance on the power of our words, and reminds us to be careful and intentional with what we say.
It’s no wonder why we must be careful with our words and how we use them.
It’s not just what we say, but also how we say it, that can have a significant impact on others.
May we learn to use our tongues for good and speak life wherever we go.
Bible verses about controlling your tongue
Controlling our tongue is easier said than done, but it’s a vital part of our everyday communication.
Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say on the topic.
In James 3:2, we’re warned that “if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.”
Proverbs 21:23 urges us to “watch our tongue,” while Ephesians 4:29 reminds us to speak “only what is helpful for building others up.”
The tongue can break a bone Bible verse
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”
But according to the Bible, that’s not entirely true. Proverbs 25:15 says, “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”
Now, I know that sounds a bit strange – how can words break bones? But if you think about it, our words have incredible power.
They can build people up or tear them down.
They can heal or hurt. So be careful with your words, my friend, because they have the power to do more damage than you might think.
Proverbs from the Bible on tongue
When it comes to the power of words, the Bible has plenty to say. Proverbs, in particular, is chock-full of wisdom on the subject.
We’re told that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
And that “the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
It’s clear that the way we use our words has a real impact on the world around us.
Whether we’re speaking kindly or harshly, our words have the power to build people up or tear them down.
As we navigate the complexities of human interaction, it’s worth remembering the wisdom of the Bible: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).
God Warns us That our Tongue and Words Have Power
The tongue and our words are powerful.
As Christians, we must be mindful of what we say because the Bible has much to say about the power of our speech.
We must aim to be wise with our words, using them to build up rather than tear down, offering comfort, healing, and encouragement to those around us.
The 25 Bible verses discussed in this article offer us guidance and teach us how to control our tongues, avoid using our words to cause harm, and speak in ways that honor God and bless those around us.
