Bible Verses About Hurtful Words
Ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community
These are the Bible verses most often cited for hurtful words, ranked by the OpenBible.info topical community across 8,628 votes, led by Proverbs 12:18. Each passage links to its verse page or the interactive map; scripture is the King James Version.
Top verses about Hurtful Words
Proverbs 12:18478 votes
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Proverbs 15:1439 votes
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
James 1:26409 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.
Ephesians 4:29399 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.
Proverbs 18:21320 votes
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 21:23291 votes
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Matthew 15:10-11281 votes
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Proverbs 15:4275 votes
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
1 Peter 3:7-12236 votes
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Psalms 19:14211 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.
Luke 6:45183 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.
Romans 12:17-18175 votes
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Proverbs 16:24169 votes
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Psalms 34:13163 votes
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Proverbs 11:9150 votes
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Psalms 51:10143 votes
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Matthew 5:43-44139 votes
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Matthew 6:14139 votes
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 18:15133 votes
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13128 votes
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
James 3:5111 votes
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Proverbs 17:9106 votes
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Psalms 64:397 votes
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
2 Timothy 1:797 votes
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Jeremiah 29:1196 votes
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
What does the Bible say about hurtful words?
Readers most often cite Proverbs 12:18 on the subject of hurtful words. Across 8,628 votes, 25 passages are commonly cited for this topic, including Proverbs 15:1, James 1:26, Ephesians 4:29. This page lists all 25 in ranked order, quoted in the King James Version, with each linked to its cross-references.