What Does the Bible Say About Using Profanity?

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 148 helpful votes

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

Matthew 15:10-11 ESV / 106 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.”

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 87 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 3:10 ESV / 79 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 53 helpful votes

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

James 3:6-8 ESV / 36 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.

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 31 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 30 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.”

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 22 helpful votes

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

Romans 12:2 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 3:11-13 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 12 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 12:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

Luke 6:45 ESV / 8 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.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 8 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.

James 4:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Bible Verses about Using Profanity