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What does the Bible say about swearing and cursing?

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The Bible calls believers to reject profane, deceitful, hateful, and careless speech, using their words instead to honor God and build up others. Exodus 20:7 forbids taking the Lord's name in vain, while James 5:12 warns against rash or manipulative oaths. Ephesians 4:29, 5:4, and Colossians 3:8 command wholesome, thankful, and gracious speech rather than obscenity, slander, or abusive anger. Jesus teaches that words reveal the heart and will be judged (Matthew 12:34-37; Luke 6:45). Because both blessing and cursing should not flow from the same mouth (James 3:10), Christians need the renewing grace of Christ to speak truthfully, reverently, and lovingly.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Ephesians 4:29 7 votes

    Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

  • James 5:12 6 votes

    But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear— not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”, so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy.

  • James 3:10 5 votes

    Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

  • Ephesians 5:4 5 votes

    nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

  • Matthew 5:22 3 votes

    But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

  • Exodus 20:7 3 votes

    “You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.

  • Proverbs 4:24 3 votes

    Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

  • Colossians 3:8 2 votes

    but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

  • Luke 6:45 2 votes

    The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.

  • Matthew 12:34-37 2 votes

    You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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