100 Bible Verses about Language

Genesis 11:1-9 ESV / 256 helpful votes

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. ...

Zephaniah 3:9 ESV / 188 helpful votes

“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.

1 Corinthians 14:9 ESV / 136 helpful votes

So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Revelation 7:9-10 ESV / 115 helpful votes

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Exodus 4:10-12 ESV / 109 helpful votes

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

Isaiah 50:4 ESV / 103 helpful votes

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

Deuteronomy 28:49 ESV / 102 helpful votes

The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,

Psalm 19:1-4 ESV / 99 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

1 Corinthians 14:10 ESV / 90 helpful votes

There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

Acts 2:1-11 ESV / 90 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 ESV / 85 helpful votes

If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Genesis 11:6 ESV / 78 helpful votes

And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

Isaiah 28:11 ESV / 74 helpful votes

For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people,

Acts 2:8 ESV / 69 helpful votes

And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Jeremiah 5:15 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the Lord. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.

Acts 22:2 ESV / 64 helpful votes

And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

1 Corinthians 14:22 ESV / 61 helpful votes

Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

Nehemiah 13:24 ESV / 49 helpful votes

And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 46 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.

Acts 2:1-13 ESV / 45 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 37 helpful votes

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

James 3:1-12 ESV / 36 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! ...

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 34 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.

Genesis 10:5 ESV / 33 helpful votes

From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.

Revelation 5:9 ESV / 32 helpful votes

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

1 Corinthians 14:2-28 ESV / 32 helpful votes

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ...

Acts 2:4 ESV / 32 helpful votes

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Psalm 114:1 ESV / 30 helpful votes

When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

Revelation 7:9 ESV / 29 helpful votes

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Acts 2:6 ESV / 25 helpful votes

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

Acts 2:1-12 ESV / 25 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

Colossians 4:3-4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

1 Corinthians 12:10 ESV / 24 helpful votes

To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 24 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Genesis 11:7 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.”

Acts 2:8-11 ESV / 22 helpful votes

And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Matthew 28:19 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Daniel 1:4 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Genesis 11:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

Acts 2:4-11 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ...

Psalm 81:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 19 helpful votes

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 18 helpful votes

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

Mark 16:17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 16 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Genesis 11:9 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Acts 10:46 ESV / 14 helpful votes

For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

John 1:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 13 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 14:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 Kings 18:26 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”

Revelation 14:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

James 3:5-10 ESV / 12 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! 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. 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. ...

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

Colossians 4:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

Isaiah 66:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,

Psalm 19:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

Acts 19:6 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Daniel 2:4 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 11 helpful votes

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Genesis 10:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Ezra 4:7 ESV / 10 helpful votes

In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

Genesis 10:20 ESV / 10 helpful votes

These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

James 3:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

James 1:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

1 Corinthians 14:6-19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, ...

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. ...

1 Corinthians 13:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Acts 14:11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

Acts 2:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

Acts 2:9-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Acts 2:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

John 19:20 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

Luke 23:38 ESV / 9 helpful votes

There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Luke 6:45 ESV / 9 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.

Matthew 26:73 ESV / 9 helpful votes

After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.”

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 9 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Judges 12:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

They said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 9 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.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 9 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

James 3:6-8 ESV / 8 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. 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.

James 3:5-6 ESV / 8 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! 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.

Hebrews 6:1-20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ...

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

1 Corinthians 14:22-23 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1 Corinthians 1:5 ESV / 8 helpful votes

That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

Acts 26:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 8 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.”

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 33:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand.

Isaiah 19:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

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