Topic study
Words & the tongue in the Bible
The power of the tongue, gossip, truth and blessing.
2520 King James verses match this subject. The chapters below hold the heaviest concentration of them, so you can read each passage where it actually sits.
Chapters to read
Matched on the words themselves in the King James text. Where a word is also a name, it can point to more than one person or place, so read the chapter to see which.
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Key verses
- Psalms 59:12
For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
- Jeremiah 9:5
And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
- Zephaniah 3:13
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
- Proverbs 8:7
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
- Proverbs 12:19
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
- Exodus 4:15
And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
- 1 Kings 22:13
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
- Psalms 109:2
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
- Jeremiah 5:14
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
- 1 Corinthians 14:19
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
- Numbers 22:38
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
- Numbers 23:5
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
- Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
- Deuteronomy 32:1
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
- 2 Samuel 14:3
And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
- 1 Kings 17:24
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
- Job 8:2
How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
- Job 23:12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
- Job 27:4
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
- Psalms 31:18
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.