Bad-mouthing or talking negatively about others is a common issue that many of us face in daily life. It can be tempting to speak ill of others when we’re frustrated, hurt, or simply caught up in gossip. However, as Christians, we are called to treat others with love, respect, and kindness.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of criticizing others, but the Bible challenges us to approach each situation with grace, patience, and humility. In this post, we’ll explore what the Bible says about bad-mouthing others and why it’s crucial for us as Christians to choose our words wisely.
The Bible teaches us to be mindful of what we say, ensuring that our words reflect God’s love and compassion. Instead of tearing others down, we should build them up, following the example of Christ.
Powerful Bible Verses About Bad Mouthing, Talking Bad About Others
1. James 4:11
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”
2. Proverbs 16:28
“A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
3. Matthew 12:36-37
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
4. Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
5. Proverbs 11:13
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
6. Proverbs 18:8
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
7. Titus 3:2
“To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
8. Psalm 34:13
“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.”
9. 1 Peter 2:1
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
10. Proverbs 20:19
“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.”
11. Colossians 3:8
“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”
12. Proverbs 6:16-19
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
13. Proverbs 12:18
“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.”
14. Luke 6:45
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.”
15. James 3:5-6
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”
16. Proverbs 25:9-10
“Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another; lest he who hears it expose your shame, and your reputation be ruined.”
17. Matthew 18:15
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”
18. Proverbs 4:24
“Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.”
19. Proverbs 21:23
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
20. Proverbs 25:23
“The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.”
21. Romans 1:29-30
“They were filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters.”
22. Romans 14:10
“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
23. Psalm 101:5
“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.”
24. Exodus 23:1
“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”
25. Proverbs 15:4
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
26. Psalm 140:11
“Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”
27. Proverbs 19:5
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.”
28. Proverbs 26:22
“The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.”
29. Matthew 5:22
“But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; but whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
30. Romans 13:13
“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.”
31. 2 Corinthians 12:20
“For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbiting, whisperings, conceits, tumults.”
32. James 4:11
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law.”
33. Proverbs 17:9
“He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.”
34. Matthew 12:30
“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
35. Ephesians 4:31-32
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Our Thought On What The Bible Says About Bad Mouthing And Talking Bad About Others
Bad mouthing or talking negatively about others is a behavior that can cause significant harm in both personal and communal relationships. It is often driven by frustration, jealousy, or misunderstanding, but it is detrimental to the body of Christ and the community at large.
The Bible teaches that our words should be used to build each other up, not tear one another down. In passages like Ephesians 4:29, believers are urged to let no corrupt communication proceed from their mouths but only that which is good for building others up.
When we speak badly about others, we can easily damage reputations, cause unnecessary division, and contribute to an environment of hostility and bitterness. Proverbs 16:28 warns that a perverse man sows strife and that gossip can even separate close friends.
This demonstrates how destructive our words can be when we fail to control them and speak with kindness. Instead, the Bible encourages us to practice speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), to seek reconciliation rather than judgment (Matthew 18:15), and to forgive one another (Colossians 3:13).
True strength in relationships comes from mutual respect, understanding, and kindness. Our words should be a reflection of God’s love, and we should endeavor to speak life, not death, into the lives of others.
Ultimately, the Bible calls believers to a higher standard of speech. We are to control our tongues, avoid gossip, and treat others with the respect and kindness that we would want for ourselves.
By doing so, we create an atmosphere of unity and peace that glorifies God. As Christians, it is essential to reflect God’s love in our speech, remembering that we are called to build up the body of Christ, not tear it down.