What Does the Bible Say About Swear Words?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 232 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.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 116 helpful votes

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

James 5:12 ESV / 106 helpful votes

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 69 helpful votes

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 57 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.

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 44 helpful votes

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

James 3:10 ESV / 40 helpful votes

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

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 28 helpful votes

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

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 27 helpful votes

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

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Bible Verses about Swear Words