Bible Verses About Saying Bad Words

Dear friends, our words hold great power, for good or evil. Scripture warns us clearly about the danger of foul language, coarse joking, and careless speech.

When we allow cursing, insults, gossip, lies, or hurtful words to cross our lips, we grieve God’s Holy Spirit. Our tongues become tools for tearing others down rather than building them up. Over time, such speech patterns corrupt our hearts and distance us from walking faithfully with Christ.

On the other hand, words that encourage, compliment, and show care reflect God’s love. Speaking truth gently and seasoning our speech with grace blesses listeners. Making time for wholesome conversations, rather than jesting crudely, honors God and others.

If we have developed habits of using foul language or joking inappropriately, Scripture urges us to repent. God stands ready to forgive any who come to Him seeking a renewed mind and cleaner speech. His strength enables us to restraint our tongues, replace useless chatter with praise, and exchange bitterness for encouragement.

Dear friends, now let’s look at some Bible verses below that talk about controlling our speech and using words to bless.

What the Bible Says About Cursing and Foul Language

Ephesians 4:29
“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”

Colossians 3:8
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth”

Romans 3:13-14
“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing bitterness”

Verses Warning Against Cursing and Coarse Jokes

Exodus 20:7
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain”

Ephesians 5:4
“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks”

Proverbs 8:13
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, arrogancy, the evil way, the froward mouth, do I hate”

Matthew 15:18-19
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”

The Power of Words for Good or Evil

Proverbs 18:21
“Death life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”

James 3:5-6
“Even so the tongue is a little member, boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, setteth on fire the course of nature; it is set on fire of hell”

Matthew 12:37
“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, by thy words thou shalt be condemned”

Proverbs 12:18
“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health”

Controlling Your Tongue and Speech

Proverbs 21:23
“Whoso keepeth his mouth his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles”

James 1:26
“If any man among you seem to be religious, bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain”

Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger”

Proverbs 13:3
“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction”

Setting a Godly Example With Your Speech

1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity”

Colossians 3:17
“Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him”

Proverbs 15:28
“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things”

Asking God’s Forgiveness for Inappropriate Language

1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful just to forgive us our sins, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord , my strength, my redeemer”

Proverbs 28:13
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth forsaketh them shall have mercy”

James 5:16
“Confess your faults one to another, pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”

Bible Verses to Help Overcome a Foul Mouth

Psalm 141:3
“Set a watch, O Lord , before my mouth; keep the door of my lips”

Ephesians 4:31-32
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”

Proverbs 16:24
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, health to the bones”

Matthew 15:11
“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man”

What Does It Mean to Use Language That Blesses Others

Proverbs 11:11
“By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked”

Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”

James 3:9-10
“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be”