What does the Bible say about foul language?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible says that Christians should put away foul, degrading, and irreverent speech, using words that honor God and build up others. Ephesians 4:29 and Colossians 4:6 call believers to gracious, helpful speech, while Ephesians 5:4 and Colossians 3:8 reject obscenity, crude joking, slander, and abusive language. Exodus 20:7 especially forbids taking the Lord's name lightly or falsely. Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:36-37 that people will give account for their words, because speech reveals the heart. James 3:10 warns against using the same mouth for blessing God and cursing others. By God's renewing grace, believers are called to speak with truth, purity, self-control, and love.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ephesians 5:4
nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- Colossians 3:8
but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
- Colossians 3:8-10
[8] but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. [9] Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, [10] and have put on the new man, that is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
- Exodus 20:7
"You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
- Matthew 12:37
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
- Matthew 12:36
I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
- James 3:10
Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
- Matthew 15:10-11
[10] He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand. [11] That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
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