Word choice matters. The words we choose can either help or hurt our relationships, and a sincere apology can mean the difference between forgiveness and resentment. The same is true for our relationship with God: by studying the Bible and applying its truths to our lives, we find that God is interested in every detail of our lives.
Words are powerful! They can build or tear down. The tongue is a huge part of our communication, so we must be careful how we use it. The Bible has a lot to say about the power of words and what they can do, but there’s no better place to start than these inspirational quotes from Jesus Christ himself.
Words are our most powerful weapon. Though they seem small and insignificant, they can spur action and create change. But words can also be very elusive, too easily said without thought or consequence. The Bible expounds upon the power of words and the tongue many times throughout its pages. Here are some verses about words and the tongue to give you strength today during this fast.(<!(ENDSPACE)endless-content
Life is full of struggles and pain. If we don’t learn to use our words to help us get through these situations, we will be stuck in the same problems over and over again. These Bible verses about words and the tongue can help you learn how to effectively use your voice to create change when you need it most.
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The Tongue
Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 711 helpful votes
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
James 1:26 ESV / 698 helpful votes
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 694 helpful votes
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
1 Peter 3:10 ESV / 624 helpful votes
For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
James 3:8 ESV / 617 helpful votes
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 591 helpful votes
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 562 helpful votes
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 550 helpful votes
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 428 helpful votes
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
James 3:6 ESV / 426 helpful votes
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
James 3:1-18 ESV / 376 helpful votes
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! …
James 3:5 ESV / 371 helpful votes
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 371 helpful votes
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Psalm 141:3 ESV / 360 helpful votes
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Psalm 34:13 ESV / 333 helpful votes
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 329 helpful votes
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 295 helpful votes
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Revelation 1:1 ESV / 288 helpful votes
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 285 helpful votes
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
James 3:9 ESV / 280 helpful votes
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 266 helpful votes
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
James 1:19 ESV / 259 helpful votes
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 3:2 ESV / 247 helpful votes
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Psalm 19:14 ESV / 245 helpful votes
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Matthew 15:18 ESV / 228 helpful votes
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Matthew 12:36 ESV / 227 helpful votes
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Psalm 39:1 ESV / 224 helpful votes
To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 220 helpful votes
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 218 helpful votes
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.
Colossians 4:6 ESV / 206 helpful votes
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Matthew 15:11 ESV / 206 helpful votes
It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Matthew 5:22 ESV / 196 helpful votes
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 189 helpful votes
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Matthew 12:37 ESV / 188 helpful votes
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Proverbs 31:26 ESV / 188 helpful votes
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 188 helpful votes
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
James 3:7-12 ESV / 187 helpful votes
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? …
Proverbs 29:20 ESV / 178 helpful votes
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
James 3:1 ESV / 163 helpful votes
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Proverbs 18:20-21 ESV / 163 helpful votes
From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 25:23 ESV / 162 helpful votes
The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
Psalm 66:17 ESV / 159 helpful votes
I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.
Luke 6:45 ESV / 156 helpful votes
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Proverbs 10:20 ESV / 156 helpful votes
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
Proverbs 6:17 ESV / 155 helpful votes
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 19:5 ESV / 154 helpful votes
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 152 helpful votes
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 15:1-2 ESV / 149 helpful votes
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
Proverbs 10:31 ESV / 148 helpful votes
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
Psalm 12:3-4 ESV / 146 helpful votes
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
Romans 3:13 ESV / 145 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
what you say with your mouth will happen
There’s a powerful truth about your words that not many know about, and that is this: What you speak with your mouth, you release into your life.
I heard that during one of Pastor Alan Scott’s sermon at my home church. Words have great power in our life. Especially the ones you speak over yourself!
So how does it work? First, let me tell you a story. Years ago, in our country, a group of men came together and created the Declaration of Independence. That document went on to be one of the most shaping works of our country. Those men spoke those words out loud, laying the foundation for our country for years to come.
In a similar way, you can use the power of your words to lay foundations and mold and shape your own life. Let me show you how.
- Using the power of your words to change your mindset.
Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling down or discouraged, or when you’re feeling like you can’t do something, that the right words can turn it all around? Here’s what the Proverbs says about that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Pro. 18:21, ESV)
- Using the power of your words to control your own anger:
When we’re feeling overwhelmed or upset, what’s the first thing we usually do? Lash out at those around us. But often, when we chose to control our words, our tongue, and our tone, we can overcome those emotions of anger and calm ourselves down just by changing the way we’re speaking. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Pro. 16:24, ESV)
- Using the power of your words when you’re under attack:
We’ve all been in a situation where we felt like we were being attacked by someone, whether at work or at home. When our character or motives are being called into question, it’s easy to want to lash out. But we can use our words to bring life into these situations as well! “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Pro.13:3, ESV)
- Using the power of your words to encourage yourself:
One of the best things we can do is to teach ourselves to stop and think before we speak. I have made the mistake many times of saying things I didn’t mean in the heat of anger or venting for so long that I talked myself into an even bigger state of discouragement. We can encourage ourselves, and use our words in a powerful way simply by stopping to think before we speak. “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” (Pro.15:28, NLT)