Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Speaking Ill Of Others?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Speaking Ill Of Others in the Bible
Discover 14 powerful Bible verses about speaking ill of others. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential character & virtues topic.
Top 10 Verses About Speaking Ill Of Others
- 1Proverbs 11:12
“He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. void: Heb. destitute of heart”
KJV - 2Proverbs 17:9
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. seeketh: or, procureth”
KJV - 3Ecclesiastes 7:21
“Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: take: Heb. give not thine heart”
KJV - 4Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
KJV - 5Romans 12:19
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
KJV - 6Ephesians 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 - 7Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
KJV - 8Philippians 4:8
“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. honest: or, venerable”
KJV - 9Colossians 3:8
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
KJV - 10Titus 3:1
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Speaking Ill Of Others? (3 Verses)
“He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. void: Heb. destitute of heart”
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. seeketh: or, procureth”
“Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: take: Heb. give not thine heart”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Speaking Ill Of Others? (10 Verses)
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
“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”
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
“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. honest: or, venerable”
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
“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.”
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”
“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Speaking Ill Of Others
- 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
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about speaking ill of others. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 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
Memorise at least one key verse about speaking ill of others 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 speaking ill of others 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 speaking ill of others needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about speaking ill of others 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 speaking ill of others, 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 Speaking Ill Of Others?
You have studied 13 verses about speaking ill of others. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.