Spreading rumors or information about other people is known as gossip, and it can be very destructive to both the individual and the relationships.
Bible verses about gossip address gossip, providing instructions on how to avoid it and warnings about the repercussions of doing so.
These passages provide knowledge and understanding of the negative impacts of gossip and the significance of communicating with people with love, kindness, and honesty.
Bible Verses About Gossip
The Bible offers insight and direction on this crucial topic, whether you want to understand the perils of gossip better or find advice on how to avoid it.
In this article, we will study and access the Bible verses about Gossip and how we can avoid it in every possible way.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) – Let No Corrupting Talk Come Out Of Your Mouths
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV) – God Hates A Lying Tongue
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 16:28 (ESV) – A Whisperer Separates Close Friends
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
Proverbs 21:23 (ESV) – A Bridled Tongue Keeps Himself Out Of Trouble
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
James 1:26 (ESV) – You Deceive Yourself When You Don’t Bridle Your Tongue
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Proverbs 20:19 (ESV) – Whoever Goes About Slandering Reveals Secrets
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
Matthew 12:36 (ESV) – We Will Give Account Of Every Careless Word We Speak
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Psalm 101:5 (ESV) – God Will Destroy Everyone That Slanders His Neighbor Secretly
Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
Psalm 34:13 (ESV) – Keep Your Tongue From Evil
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Titus 3:2 (ESV) – Speak Evil Of No One
To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Proverbs 18:8 (ESV)
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Proverbs 26:20 (ESV)
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 11:13 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Proverbs 17:4 (ESV)
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
James 4:11 (ESV)
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
Leviticus 19:16 (ESV)
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV)
Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Exodus 23:1 (ESV)
“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
Romans 1:29 (ESV)
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
Proverbs 10:18 (ESV)
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
Proverbs 17:9 (ESV)
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
2 Timothy 2:16 (ESV)
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
Exodus 20:16 (ESV)
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Proverbs 19:5 (ESV)
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
2 Corinthians 12:20 (ESV)
For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
James 3:8 (ESV)
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Psalm 64:2-4 (ESV)
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
Bible Verses About Gossip And Slander
Slander is when wrong or damaging words are made about someone with the purpose of damaging their reputation.
Gossip is the spreading of rumors or information about other people.
This Bible verse about Gossip and slander has much to say about both slander and gossip, including instructions on how to refrain from it and what happens if you do.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
James 1:26 (ESV)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 20:19 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
Leviticus 19:16 (ESV)
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
James 4:11-12 (ESV)
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Ephesians 4:31 (ESV)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Proverbs 26:20 (ESV)
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
1 Peter 2:1-25 (ESV)
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …
1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV)
Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Proverbs 10:18 (ESV)
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Proverbs 11:13 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Matthew 7:1-29 (ESV)
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye
Bible Verses About Gossip And Judging
The danger of gossip and passing judgment on others is a significant issue that repeatedly appears throughout the scriptures.
These behaviors not only jeopardize relationships but also the reputation of the person being discussed and our own moral character as Christians.
In this discussion, we’ll look at a few scriptures from the Bible that deal with gossip and judging and consider what they represent in our everyday lives.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
Proverbs 11:13 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
James 4:11 (ESV)
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV)
Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Proverbs 20:19 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
Psalm 34:13 (ESV)
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
James 1:26 (ESV)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
2 Corinthians 12:20 (ESV)
For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.
Bible Verses About Gossip Proverbs
Numerous verses in Proverbs caution us against the perils and effects of gossip.
These verses offer helpful advice on choosing our words carefully and avoiding falling into the trap of spreading stories or speaking poorly of other people.
In this discussion, we’ll look at some of the Proverbs verses in the Bible that talk about gossip and consider how we might use these lessons to cultivate wholesome relationships and lead upright lives.
Proverbs 11:13 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Proverbs 10:18 (ESV)
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
Psalm 34:13 (ESV)
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 20:19 (ESV)
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV)
Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Proverbs 26:20 (ESV)
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 18:8 (ESV)
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
James 1:26 (ESV)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Proverbs 11:9 (ESV)
With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
Conclusion
Close friendships can be severed by gossip, as Proverbs 16:28 cautions us, and James 1:26 tells us that individuals who are unable to restrain their tongues are deceiving themselves and their religion is of no value.
We are commanded as Christians to be careful with our words and to use them to uplift others rather than tossing rumors about them.
Proverbs 20:19 warns us to stay away from gossipers, while Proverbs 26:20 says that just as a fire goes out without wood, so does a conflict without gossip.
We should make an effort to speak in a way that honors God and benefits people around us.
