Words can heal or hurt, build up or destroy. The Bible speaks surprisingly often about the power of the tongue—especially Proverbs and the Epistle of James. Here you will find 21 Bible verses about words and speech.
The Power of Words
Words have weight.
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Death and life are in the power of the tongue; he who loves it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21
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Whoever is careless with their words will be pricked like a sword, but the tongue of the wise is healing.
Proverbs 12:18Proverbs of Solomon
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A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a lying tongue brings heartache.
Proverbs 15:4
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For we all stumble in many ways. But whoever is free from all sin is a perfect man and can also keep his whole body in check.
James 3:2
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So the tongue is also a small member, yet it does great things. See how a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze!
James 3:5
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By it we bless God our Father, and by it we curse people, who are made in the image of God. Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. This should not be, dear brothers.
James 3:9-10
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You snakes, how can good come out of evil? For whatever is in the heart, out of the mouth comes.
Matthew 12:34
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But I tell you that people must give an account in the last judgment for every useless word they have spoken. By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:36-37
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A good person brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and an evil person brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For whatever is in the heart, out of the mouth comes.
Luke 6:45Heart
Good Words
Verses about words that build up.
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The words of the gracious are like honey, they comfort the soul and refresh the bones.
Proverbs 16:24FriendlinessEncouragement
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A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples in silver bowls.
Proverbs 25:11RelationshipsProverbs of Solomon
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A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1RelationshipsFriendliness
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It is a delight to a man to answer rightly, and a word in season is very pleasant.
Proverbs 15:23
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Anxiety in the heart grieves, but a friendly word gladdens.
Proverbs 12:25FriendlinessEncouragement
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Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouth, but only what is useful for helping, so that it may bring encouragement to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29RelationshipsGossip
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Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:6RelationshipsFriendliness
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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer.
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O Lord, keep my mouth and guard my lips.
Psalm 141:3Gossip
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The Lord has given me a taught tongue, that I may know how to speak words of comfort at the right time. He awakens me each morning; he awakens my ears, that I may hear as one who listens.
Isaiah 50:4EncouragementMorning
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Where there are many words, there will be sin; but he who keeps his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19RelationshipsGossip
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Do not be quick with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to speak before God; for God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:1Listening
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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The Tongue—Small, But Powerful
James compares the tongue to a small rudder that steers a large ship, and to a small fire that sets a whole forest ablaze (James 3:4-5). He is honest: No one has their tongue completely under control. “For we all stumble in many ways. But whoever is free from all sin is a perfect man” (James 3:2). Proverbs says it even more succinctly: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Words create reality—in a child who feels loved or rejected, in a marriage, in a team.
Words That Build Up
Jesus says that words come from the heart: “For whatever is in the heart, out of the mouth comes” (Matthew 12:34). Good words, therefore, begin on the inside. Paul gives a practical standard: Speak “only what is useful for helping” (Ephesians 4:29). And a beautiful prayer for every morning is found in Psalm 141:3: “O Lord, keep my mouth and guard my lips.” Learn more about Bible verses about gossip and chatter, Bible verses about listening, and Bible verses about friendliness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about words?
The Bible says that words have great power (Proverbs 18:21; James 3:5) and calls us to speak in a way that builds up and is friendly (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6).
Where does it say, “For whatever is in the heart, out of the mouth comes”?
In Matthew 12:34. The phrase became a proverb through Luther’s translation.
