Swearing, or using profane and vulgar language, is a subject addressed in various parts of the Bible. As Christians, we are called to reflect Christ in our words, thoughts, and actions, and that includes the way we speak. The Bible provides numerous scriptures that guide us toward purity in speech, warning us about the dangers of unwholesome words and teaching us how to speak with grace and kindness. This article highlights 52 Bible verses that address swearing, vulgar language, and the importance of speaking in a way that honors God.
The Power of Words in the Bible
Words are powerful. The Bible teaches that our words have the ability to build others up or tear them down, to encourage or to destroy. Jesus Himself said that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). This means that the words we use reveal what is in our hearts. If we allow negative emotions, bitterness, or anger to fester, they will manifest in harmful speech. On the other hand, when our hearts are filled with love, humility, and grace, our words will reflect that as well.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul often emphasized the importance of using our speech for good. In Ephesians 4:29, he urged believers to “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” The Bible teaches that our language should be a reflection of our new nature in Christ, free from profanity, crude humor, and harmful speech.
This article will explore 52 Bible verses that address swearing, foul language, and the need for wholesome speech, allowing us to better understand how we should communicate as followers of Christ.
52 Bible Verses on Swearing
1. Exodus 20:7
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
This verse is part of the Ten Commandments and speaks directly to the misuse of God’s name. Swearing by God’s name is a serious offense in Scripture.
2. Leviticus 19:12
“Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.”
God calls His people to honor His name by speaking truthfully and reverently, without using His name in vain.
3. Matthew 5:34-37
“But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Jesus teaches that swearing, or making oaths, is unnecessary for a believer. Our word should be enough.
4. Matthew 12:36-37
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Every word we speak is significant. God holds us accountable for how we use our words.
5. James 5:12
“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ otherwise you will be condemned.”
James echoes Jesus’ teaching about not swearing and emphasizes the importance of simple, truthful speech.
6. Proverbs 4:24
“Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”
This verse teaches that corrupt speech has no place in the life of a believer.
7. Proverbs 6:16-19
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
While not specifically about swearing, this passage shows that God despises dishonesty and falsehood in all forms, which can often be expressed through swearing.
8. Colossians 3:8
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Paul warns the church against letting anger and foul language take over their speech.
9. Ephesians 5:4
“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
Christians are called to avoid speech that is inappropriate or offensive, choosing instead words of gratitude.
10. 1 Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
This verse speaks to the broader issue of sinful desires and the negative impact they can have on our speech, including swearing.
11. Romans 3:13-14
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Here, Paul describes the unredeemed state of humanity, where speech is filled with destructive and hateful words.
12. Psalm 34:13
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
This verse encourages believers to guard their speech against any form of wickedness.
13. Psalm 50:19
“You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.”
This verse condemns those who speak lies and use their words for evil purposes.
14. Psalm 141:3
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
David prays for help in controlling his speech, acknowledging that our words require divine assistance to stay pure.
15. Proverbs 10:31
“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.”
Righteousness is evident in our speech, while perversity in language leads to destruction.
16. Proverbs 13:3
“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”
This proverb emphasizes the importance of careful, wise speech.
17. Proverbs 21:23
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
The ability to control one’s tongue is seen as a key to avoiding many troubles.
18. 1 Peter 3:10
“For ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.'”
Peter reminds us that good speech is essential for a blessed life.
19. Luke 6:45
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Our speech reflects what is in our hearts—good or evil.
20. Matthew 15:18
“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
This verse further emphasizes the connection between our hearts and our words.
21. Titus 2:8
“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.”
While not directly addressing swearing, Paul’s instruction about self-control in speech is part of his broader counsel to the church.
22. Ephesians 4:29
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
This verse teaches us the importance of speaking with a purpose: to edify others, not to tear them down with harmful language.
23. Proverbs 15:1
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
This verse highlights how our words can either diffuse or escalate a situation. Choosing gentle speech over harshness can lead to peace.
24. Proverbs 12:18
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Our words have the power to wound or heal. We are called to be wise in how we speak, aiming to heal rather than harm.
25. Romans 14:19
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Peace and mutual edification should be the goals of every Christian’s speech. This includes refraining from swearing and focusing on building up those around us.
26. Psalm 19:14
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
David prays that his words and thoughts be pleasing to God, showing us that our words should be a reflection of our hearts and our relationship with God.
27. Psalm 10:7
“His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.”
This verse speaks to the destructive nature of words when they are used for evil purposes.
28. Proverbs 15:4
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
A kind, soothing word brings life, while perverse speech has the power to destroy the spirit.
29. 1 Peter 2:1
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
Peter reminds believers to rid themselves of evil behaviors, including the use of hurtful or deceptive language.
30. Matthew 12:33-34
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad. For a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Jesus emphasizes that our words reveal what is inside of us. If our hearts are full of evil, our words will reflect that, including swearing or harmful language.
31. Proverbs 18:21
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
This powerful verse reminds us that the words we speak can either bring life or death, depending on how we use them.
32. Titus 3:2
“To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
The Christian is called to avoid slander and to speak with gentleness and consideration toward others.
33. Matthew 15:11
“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Jesus teaches that what we speak from our hearts is what truly defiles us, not what we eat or drink.
34. Colossians 3:9
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
Lying and deceptive speech, including swearing or speaking falsely, are part of the “old self” that believers are to put off.
35. Proverbs 10:32
“The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”
Righteous speech is fitting and appropriate, whereas the wicked speak perversely, including through swearing.
36. Ephesians 5:3-4
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
Here, Paul warns against speech that includes obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking, which can often lead to or include swearing.
37. Proverbs 21:23
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
By being mindful of what we speak, we can avoid many of the calamities that come with reckless words.
38. Luke 6:28
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Instead of using our words to retaliate, we are called to bless others, even when they curse or mistreat us.
39. James 3:5-6
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
James gives a vivid illustration of how destructive the tongue can be. Swearing and unwholesome speech can ruin lives, just as a small spark can destroy a great forest.
40. James 3:10
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
This verse underscores the inconsistency of swearing and praising God with the same mouth. Our speech should align with our identity as children of God.
41. Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Kind, gracious words are healing and restorative, contrasting with the harm caused by foul language and swearing.
42. Romans 3:14
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Paul describes the unredeemed state of humanity, where speech is filled with negativity, bitterness, and curses.
43. Proverbs 26:28
“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
Swearing and deceitful speech not only hurt others but also have a destructive impact on relationships.
44. Ecclesiastes 5:2
“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of speaking thoughtfully, especially in God’s presence, and not rushing into making oaths or swearing.
45. Matthew 7:24-27
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
While not directly addressing swearing, this verse underscores the importance of building our lives—our speech included—on the firm foundation of Jesus’ teachings.
46. Proverbs 17:27-28
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
Wisdom in speech involves restraint and understanding. Even a fool can appear wise if they avoid swearing and speak carefully.
47. Psalm 64:3
“They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.”
This verse illustrates how harmful words can be, including swearing, which can pierce and harm others deeply.
48. Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Lying and deceitful speech, including swearing, are incompatible with the truth that we are called to speak as members of the body of Christ.
49. Philippians 2:14
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”
While not directly about swearing, this verse teaches the importance of avoiding negative speech, such as swearing or complaining.
50. Romans 6:13
“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”
We are called to offer our speech—our mouths—as instruments of righteousness rather than sin, avoiding swearing and unholy language.
51. 1 Corinthians 10:31
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Our words should reflect the glory of God, including avoiding swearing or using foul language.
52. Hebrews 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Our speech should reflect peace and holiness, avoiding swearing, which is contrary to a holy life.
Conclusion
The Bible teaches us that our speech should be pure, loving, and edifying. Swearing and vulgar language have no place in the life of a Christian, as they are contrary to the standards God sets for us. Instead, we are called to speak words that reflect God’s love and grace. As the verses above show, the Bible offers many warnings about the consequences of careless speech and calls us to use our words to build others up, not to tear them down.
We must strive to follow Christ’s example and allow the Holy Spirit to guide our speech, keeping our words aligned with God’s truth and love. Whether in casual conversations, in times of frustration, or in moments of temptation, let us choose to honor God with the words we speak.
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