What does the Bible say about talking about someone?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls us to speak about others with truth, love, humility, and restraint, avoiding judgmental, deceitful, or harmful words. Ephesians 4:29 teaches that speech should build others up and give grace, while Ephesians 4:32 commands kindness and forgiveness. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:1-5 against condemning others hypocritically, calling us first to examine our own sin. James 1:26 and James 3:2-11 stress that an untamed tongue reveals serious spiritual inconsistency. Proverbs 13:3 commends guarding one’s words, and Psalm 141:3 asks God to set a watch over our mouths. When correction is needed, believers should remember Christ our Advocate, as 1 John 2:1 declares, and speak with repentance and mercy.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 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.
- Matthew 7:1-5
[1] "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. [2] For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? [4] Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
- James 1:26
If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.
- Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- James 3:2-11
[2] For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. [3] Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. [4] Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. [5] So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! [6] And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. [7] For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. [8] But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. [10] Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
- Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
- Psalms 141:3
Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.
- 1 John 2:1
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
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