What Does the Bible Say About Cursing?

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 71 helpful votes

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 70 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.

James 3:8-10 ESV / 41 helpful votes

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.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 41 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

James 1:26 ESV / 28 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Matthew 15:18-20 ESV / 17 helpful votes

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. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Luke 6:28 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Matthew 15:10-11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

2 Kings 2:23-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

2 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Bible Verses about Cursing