Bible Verses About Bad Words
Ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community
These are the Bible verses most often cited for bad words, ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community across 5,139 votes, led by Ephesians 4:29. Each passage links to its verse page or the interactive map; scripture is the King James Version.
Top verses about Bad Words
Ephesians 4:29362 votes
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Colossians 3:8298 votes
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Ephesians 5:4232 votes
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Matthew 12:36216 votes
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Psalms 19:14167 votes
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Proverbs 18:21139 votes
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
James 1:26111 votes
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Exodus 20:7106 votes
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Philippians 4:8106 votes
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Proverbs 21:2395 votes
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Colossians 4:694 votes
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Luke 6:4590 votes
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Proverbs 15:180 votes
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:478 votes
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
James 3:870 votes
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
1 Peter 3:1068 votes
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
James 3:9-1067 votes
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Psalms 39:166 votes
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Romans 12:1458 votes
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
1 Peter 3:955 votes
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Psalms 119:9754 votes
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Joel 2:2851 votes
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
John 3:1651 votes
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Proverbs 12:1850 votes
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Proverbs 13:350 votes
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
What does the Bible say about bad words?
Readers most often cite Ephesians 4:29 on the subject of bad words. Across 5,139 votes, 25 passages are commonly cited for this topic, including Colossians 3:8, Ephesians 5:4, Matthew 12:36. This page lists all 25 in ranked order, quoted in the King James Version, with each linked to its cross-references.