50 Bible Verses about Gossip
Gossip is a common human behavior, often involving the spreading of rumors, unkind words, or idle chatter about others. In these verses, the Bible offers valuable insights into the consequences of gossip, the importance of guarding our tongues, and the principles of love, kindness, and truthfulness.
As we delve into these scriptures, we will discover the wisdom of refraining from gossip, nurturing a spirit of compassion and forgiveness, and striving to build one another up rather than tear each other down. Join us on this journey through the Word of God as we seek to understand the profound impact our words can have and learn how to use them for the betterment of ourselves and our communities.
50 Bible Verses about Gossip
Proverbs 11:13
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
Proverbs 16:28
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
Leviticus 19:16
“Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”
Proverbs 26:20
“Without wood, a fire goes out; without a gossip, a quarrel dies down.”
Proverbs 18:8
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
1 Timothy 5:13
“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.”
James 4:11
“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”
Exodus 23:1
“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.”
2 Corinthians 12:20
“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.”
Proverbs 17:4
“A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.”
Proverbs 20:19
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”
Romans 1:29
“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips.”
Psalm 101:5
“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
2 Timothy 2:16
“Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.”
Proverbs 10:18
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
1 Peter 2:1
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
Titus 3:2
“To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
Matthew 12:36
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
Proverbs 25:23
“Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.”
Proverbs 14:21
“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
Psalm 34:13
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
Proverbs 20:3
“It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.”
Proverbs 12:22
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
1 Corinthians 1:10
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
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.”
Proverbs 10:19
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”
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.”
Romans 15:1
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
2 Timothy 3:3
“Without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good.”
Proverbs 11:9
“With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11
“And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.”
Proverbs 15:4
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
1 Corinthians 13:6
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
1 Corinthians 14:33
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”
Proverbs 16:27-28
“A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips, it is like a scorching fire. A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
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.”
Proverbs 21:23
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
1 Timothy 3:11
“In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”
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.”
Proverbs 26:22
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
Ephesians 4:31
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Matthew 5:22
“But I tell you that anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Psalm 140:11
“May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.”
Proverbs 20:22
“Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.”
1 Corinthians 6:10
“nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 17:9
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
2 Timothy 2:14
“Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.”
1 Corinthians 10:10
“And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.”
Proverbs 6:12-15
“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart—he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”
Proverbs 25:9
“If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence.”
Proverbs 26:4
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.”
Matthew 15:18
“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
Romans 1:30
“slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;”
1 Peter 3:16
“keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
2 Samuel 19:27
“He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish.”
1 Corinthians 5:11
“But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
Psalm 15:1-3
“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.”
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.”
2 Corinthians 12:20
“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.”
Psalm 64:2-3
“Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.”
Conclusion
These verses emphasize the importance of guarding our tongues, refraining from gossip and slander, and promoting kindness and love in our speech and actions.
Gossip, as revealed in these scriptures, is often associated with negative consequences such as discord, division, and unkindness.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of guarding our tongues, speaking the truth in love, and refraining from spreading rumors or engaging in slander. Instead, we are encouraged to cultivate a spirit of kindness, forgiveness, and empathy towards one another.
As we reflect on these verses, may we be inspired to use our words to uplift, encourage, and build one another up. Let us strive to be individuals who promote unity, harmony, and the values of love and righteousness in our words and actions, following the timeless wisdom found in the pages of the Bible.
