The Bible has a lot to say about the power of our words and the connection between the tongue and life and death. Several verses point to the incredible power that our speech carries, for both good and evil.
Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21 ESV)
This is one of the most well-known verses about the power of the tongue. It tells us plainly that both life and death are contained in the words we speak. Our tongues have the power to speak words that result in life or death. This is likely referring both to physical life and death as well as spiritual. Our words can heal or wound, encourage or discourage, inspire or deflate. They can build others up or tear them down. We will eat the fruits – reap the consequences – of the words we choose to speak.
Proverbs 12:18
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18 ESV)
Here we again see the dichotomy between words that wound and words that heal. Reckless, unrestrained words can cut deeply, like the pierce of a sword. But wise words bring restoration and health. We must think carefully about the words we choose and consider their impact before allowing them past our lips.
Proverbs 15:4
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4 ESV)
Gentle, thoughtful speech can nourish others like a life-giving tree. But perverted, twisted words can crush someone’s spirit. The lesson is that we must guard our tongues and take care to speak words that build up rather than tear down.
Proverbs 13:3
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Proverbs 13:3 ESV)
Guarding our mouths and being careful in speech is directly connected with preserving our lives and avoiding destruction. Letting our lips run wild and unchecked, on the other hand, can lead us to ruin. This applies both to the impact of our words on others as well as the consequences they bring back upon ourselves.
Proverbs 21:23
“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23 ESV)
Controlling our speech keeps us out of trouble. Letting our mouths run unchecked will likely land us in hot water. If we want to avoid strife and discord, we must think before we speak.
Matthew 12:36-37
“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.” (Matthew 12:36-37 ESV)
Jesus Himself speaks about the coming judgment for every idle word we speak. This indicates incredible significance attached to the words that come out of our mouths. We will be either justified or condemned based on what we have spoken. This should produce great caution and diligence in how we use our words.
James 3:5-6
“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! 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 3:5-6 ESV)
James uses vivid word pictures to capture the untamed danger of the tongue. Though small, the tongue has great power. Like a spark that lights an entire forest on fire, the tongue’s wicked words can spread destruction through our lives. The tongue stains the whole body, corrupting our entire life and multiple relationships. Uncontrolled speech has the potential for incredible damage.
James 3:9-10
“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.” (James 3:9-10 ESV)
This passage rebukes the hypocrisy of praising God with one breath and cursing His creation with the next. Blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth. How can we praise the Lord and speak evil of those made in His image? Our speech must be consistent with our faith.
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)
When tensions are high, a gentle response can diffuse anger and guide the situation toward peace. Harsh, escalating words will only stir up more anger and trouble. The wise person seeks to de-escalate conflict with careful, thoughtful speech.
Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24 ESV)
Gracious speech brings joy and encouragement to those who hear it. This verse compares kind words to something sweet that nourishes the soul and even improves physical health. The power of uplifting speech shouldn’t be underestimated.
Proverbs 10:19
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” (Proverbs 10:19 ESV)
Those who talk ceaselessly tend to sin with their speech. Restraining our lips and avoiding excessive words shows wisdom and self-control. Sometimes silence really is golden.
Proverbs 10:20
“The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.” (Proverbs 10:20 ESV)
The speech of the righteous is compared to valuable silver, indicating that their words have worth and meaning. The heart of the wicked, which informs their speech, is deemed worthless.
Proverbs 10:31-32
“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.” (Proverbs 10:31-32 ESV)
The contrast is again made between the speech of the wise and upright versus that of the wicked. Righteous speech imparts wisdom and stays within acceptable bounds. The perverse tongue will be judged by God. And the twisted, evil words of the wicked flow from their corrupted hearts.
Proverbs 17:20
“A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.” (Proverbs 17:20 ESV)
Twisted speech flows from a twisted heart. Those given to dishonesty in word and deed tend to stumble into disaster again and again.Their crookedness distorts their perspective so that they cannot recognize goodness.
Proverbs 17:27-28
“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV)
Silence and restraint indicate wisdom and understanding. Even fools gain esteem by keeping their mouths shut. Chattering constantly, on the other hand, often lowers one’s reputation.
Proverbs 18:13
“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13 ESV)
Those who speak rashly without listening first make fools of themselves and store up future regret. It is wise to listen carefully rather than shoot off a hasty reply.
Proverbs 18:20
“From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.” (Proverbs 18:20 ESV)
Our speech often produces consequences that in turn impact our lives. Whether positive or negative, we will “eat the fruit” of the words we sow. What we speak connects directly to what we eventually experience.
Proverbs 18:6-7
“A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” (Proverbs 18:6-7 ESV)
Foolish, reckless words stir up quarrels and discord. They endanger the speaker through the responses they provoke. Unwise talk brings self-inflicted ruin by entrapping the undisciplined speaker.
Proverbs 21:6
“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.” (Proverbs 21:6 ESV)
Dishonest speech may temporarily enrich a deceiver but will ultimately lead to their downfall. Ill-gotten gain via lies is fleeting and often backfires in the end.
Psalm 39:1
“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.'” (Psalm 39:1 ESV)
The psalmist recognizes his vulnerability to sinning with his tongue, so he resolves to guard his speech carefully. He will watch his words closely in the presence of the wicked to avoid stumbling.
Psalm 15:1-3
“O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend” (Psalm 15:1-3 ESV)
These verses on who may dwell with God mention both truthful speech and restraint from slander. Our tongues must be tamed if we desire to be in God’s presence.
Psalm 34:11-14
“Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:11-14 ESV)
According to the psalmist, part of fearing God involves keeping our tongues from wickedness. Peaceful living also requires that we avoid deceitful speech.
Psalm 141:3
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3 ESV)
Knowing his tendency toward wrong speech, the psalmist asks God to set a guard over his mouth and lips. He knows that only the Lord can tame his rebellious tongue.
Matthew 15:11, 18-19
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:11 ESV)
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:18-19 ESV)
Jesus explains that our words reveal the condition of our hearts. Wicked speech exposes the evil within us. But this also means that as our hearts change through God’s work, our speech will become more godly.
Ephesians 4:29
“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.” (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)
Paul instructs believers to avoid unwholesome speech and instead speak words that build up others. Our goal should be to impart grace through our words.
Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6 ESV)
Again, believers are called to gracious, thoughtful speech tailored to each listener and conversation. Our words should build others up, not tear them down.
James 1:19
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19 ESV)
James admonishes believers to listen before speaking. He cautions against hasty, uncontrolled words, which often escalate anger and discord.
James 1:26
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” (James 1:26 ESV)
Mere outward religiosity means nothing if we do not tame our tongues. Deceptive speech defiles the whole person, nullifying any claims to godliness.
James 3:1-12
In James 3:1-12, the author uses several vivid metaphors to illustrate the dangerous power of the tongue: A bit in a horse’s mouth controls the whole animal. A ship’s rudder steers the entire vessel. A spark can set a forest ablaze. Fresh and salt water cannot flow from the same spring. A fig tree cannot bear olives. The tongue is a powerful influencer over our bodies and lives. No human can tame the tongue; only God through His Spirit can control it.
1 Peter 3:10
“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10 ESV)
Once again, controlling our tongues is connected directly to living a fruitful life. Refraining from deceit is key to loving life and having hope.
In summary, the Bible contains countless passages highlighting the power of our words, for good or evil. Our speech has the power to tear down or build up, wound or heal, corrupt or purify, destroy or restore. Therefore, we must guard our tongues and seek God’s help to speak words that further His kingdom. The condition of our hearts will be evidenced by what comes out of our mouths. But the good news is that God can redeem even the most reckless tongue and use it for His glory.
