What Does the Bible Say About Bridle Your Tongue?

James 1:26 ESV / 47 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 12:36-37 ESV / 29 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.”

James 3:8 ESV / 24 helpful votes

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:2 ESV / 21 helpful votes

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.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 19 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 1:19 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

John 8:44 ESV / 11 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 10 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 10 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 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.”

James 1:26-27 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ...

John 14:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Proverbs 18:1-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. ...

2 Peter 1:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

James 4:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Romans 12:2 ESV / 5 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.

1 Peter 2:1-25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ...

James 1:1-27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Romans 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 6:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

James 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Romans 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 10:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 10:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 8:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 6:1-71 ESV / 3 helpful votes

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ...

John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 25:40 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Isaiah 53:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Exodus 15:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

Genesis 3:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Galatians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Matthew 12:1-50 ESV / 2 helpful votes

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? ...

43 Bible Verses about Bridle Your Tongue

James 1:26 ESV / 47 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:8 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:2 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:44 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:26-27 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:1-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:1-25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:1-27 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 6:1-71 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 25:40 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 53:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 15:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:1-50 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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