Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Profanity?

11 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Profanity in the Bible

Explore what the Bible says about profanity. This collection of 15 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.

11
Total Verses
3
Old Testament
8
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Profanity

  1. 1
    Exodus 20:7
    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.
    KJV
  2. 2
    Psalms 34:13
    Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Proverbs 18:21
    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Matthew 12:36
    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Matthew 15:11
    Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Romans 12:1
    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
    KJV
  7. 7
    Romans 12:2
    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Ephesians 4:29
    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. to: or, to edify profitably
    KJV
  9. 9
    Ephesians 5:4
    Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
    KJV
  10. 10
    Colossians 3:8
    But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
    KJV

Subtopics of Profanity

using profanity
Of the name of God
Of the Sabbath

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Profanity? (3 Verses)

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.
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Profanity? (8 Verses)

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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. to: or, to edify profitably
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Profanity

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about profanity. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about profanity and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about profanity is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on profanity needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about profanity with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about profanity, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Profanity?

You have studied 11 verses about profanity. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about profanity?
Explore what the Bible says about profanity. This collection of 15 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme. The Bible contains 11 key verses about profanity spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about profanity are there?
There are 11 key Bible verses about profanity compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about profanity?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about profanity is Exodus 20:7 — "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."
Where in the Bible does it talk about profanity?
Profanity is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 11 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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