Negative aspects of speech

Evil speech comes from a corrupt heart

Matthew 12:33–35 ESV

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

See also ; ; ;

Evil speech is a feature of a corrupt society

Micah 6:12–13 ESV

Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow, making you desolate because of your sins.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

Evil speech provokes God’s displeasure

Proverbs 12:22 ESV

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

See also

Kinds of evil speech

Profaning God’s name

Exodus 20:7 ESV

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

See also ; ;

Lies and deceit

Psalm 5:9 ESV

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ;

Foolish boasting

Psalm 94:4 ESV

They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.

See also ; ; ; ; ;

Ridicule and insults

Proverbs 11:12 ESV

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Criticism and complaint

Numbers 12:1–15 ESV

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again.

See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Slander

Leviticus 19:16 ESV

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.

See also ; ;

Cursing

Exodus 21:17 ESV

“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

See also ; ;

Gossip

Proverbs 16:28 ESV

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

See also ; ;

Obscenity

Ephesians 5:4 ESV

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

See also

Evil speech is silenced

By God’s actions

Psalm 107:41–42 ESV

but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

See also ;

By believers’ blameless lives

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

See also