Tongue, an instrument both mighty and delicate, holds the power to build bridges or ignite infernos.
In the tapestry of human communication, its threads weave narratives of love, strife, and redemption.
The Scriptures, timeless and revered, offer profound insights into the significance of the spoken word and the responsibility it entails.
Let us embark on a journey through these sacred texts, where wisdom awaits to guide us in taming the unruly tongue and harnessing its potential for goodness and grace.
Bible Quotes About Tongue
James 3:5
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
Judges 7:5
So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.”
Job 41:1
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down his tongue with a cord?
Mark 7:33
Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva;
Luke 16:24
And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
Revelation 16:10
Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,
Numbers 22:4
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
Job 12:11
“Does not the ear test words,
As the palate tastes its food?
Job 34:3
“For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
Psalm 68:23
That your foot may shatter them in blood,
The tongue of your dogs may have its portion from your enemies.”
1 Kings 21:19
You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”’”
1 Kings 22:38
They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the Lord which He spoke.
Luke 16:21
and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.
Psalm 22:15
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
Psalm 137:6
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.
Isaiah 41:17
“The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none,
And their tongue is parched with thirst;
I, the Lord, will answer them Myself,
As the God of Israel I will not forsake them.
Lamentations 4:4
The tongue of the infant cleaves
To the roof of its mouth because of thirst;
The little ones ask for bread,
But no one breaks it for them.
Exodus 4:10-11
Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
Ezekiel 3:26
Moreover, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be mute and cannot be a man who rebukes them, for they are a rebellious house.
Luke 1:20-22
And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
Mark 7:33-35
Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He *said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.
Isaiah 32:4
The mind of the hasty will discern the truth,
And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly.
Isaiah 35:6
Then the lame will leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.
For waters will break forth in the wilderness
And streams in the Arabah.
Matthew 15:30-31
And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Luke 1:64
And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.
Proverbs 10:19
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 11:12
He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
Proverbs 17:27-28
He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
James 1:26
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
1 Peter 3:10
For,
“The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Job 29:9-10
“The princes stopped talking
And put their hands on their mouths;
The voice of the nobles was hushed,
And their tongue stuck to their palate.
Habakkuk 2:20
“But the Lord is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
Job 27:4
My lips certainly will not speak unjustly,
Nor will my tongue mutter deceit.
Psalm 39:1
For the choir director, for 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 as with a muzzle
While the wicked are in my presence.”
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 35:28
And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness
And Your praise all day long.
Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.
Psalm 45:1
For the choir director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.
My heart overflows with a good theme;
I address my verses to the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 51:14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
Psalm 66:17
I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
Psalm 71:24
My tongue also will utter Your righteousness all day long;
For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my hurt.
Psalm 119:172
Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
Psalm 126:2
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
Acts 2:26
‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
James 3:9
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
2 Samuel 23:2
“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Isaiah 50:4
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
Micah 3:8
On the other hand I am filled with power—
With the Spirit of the Lord—
And with justice and courage
To make known to Jacob his rebellious act,
Even to Israel his sin.
Luke 21:14-15
So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
Isaiah 45:23
“I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
Romans 14:11
For it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”
Philippians 2:10-11
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.
Proverbs 10:19-20
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
Proverbs 12:18
There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:23
A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!
Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
James 3:3-10
Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!read more.
Psalm 34:13
Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Psalm 5:9
There is nothing reliable in what they say;
Their inward part is destruction itself.
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.
Psalm 50:19
“You let your mouth loose in evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
Psalm 52:4
You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.
Psalm 120:2-3
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips,
From a deceitful tongue.
What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you,
You deceitful tongue?
Proverbs 17:20
He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
Jeremiah 9:8
“Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
It speaks deceit;
With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor,
But inwardly he sets an ambush for him.
Micah 6:12
“For the rich men of the city are full of violence,
Her residents speak lies,
And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Romans 3:13
“Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
Jeremiah 9:3
“They bend their tongue like their bow;
Lies and not truth prevail in the land;
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” declares the Lord.
Proverbs 6:17
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 21:6
The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
Psalm 12:3-4
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
Psalm 52:2
Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit.
Proverbs 6:24
To keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Isaiah 57:4
“Against whom do you jest?
Against whom do you open wide your mouth
And stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of rebellion,
Offspring of deceit,
Isaiah 59:3
For your hands are defiled with blood
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken falsehood,
Your tongue mutters wickedness.
Acts 1:19
And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.
Revelation 5:9
And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
Acts 2:33
Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
1 Corinthians 12:10
and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:30
All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
Isaiah 66:18
“For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.
Genesis 10:5
From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
Genesis 10:20
These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations.
Ecclesiastes 3:7
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
Proverbs 17:27
He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 10:19
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:8
The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.
Genesis 11:1-9
Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. read more.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Psalm 50:19
“You let your mouth loose in evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
1 Peter 3:10
For,
“The one who desires life, to love and see good days,
Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Acts 19:1-7
It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
In closing, the tongue serves as a potent reminder of the impact our words can have on those around us.
From the Bible’s teachings, we learn that with great power comes great responsibility, urging us to use our speech for kindness, encouragement, and truth.
By heeding the wisdom found in these ancient scriptures, we can cultivate a life where our words bring healing instead of harm, understanding instead of division, and love instead of discord.
As we strive to tame the tongue, let these biblical lessons guide our conversations and interactions, leading us toward a more compassionate and harmonious world.