Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Using Profanity?
16 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Using Profanity in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about using profanity. This collection of 17 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Using Profanity
- 1Exodus 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 - 2Psalms 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. strength: Heb. rock”
KJV - 3
- 4
- 5Proverbs 4:24
“Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. a froward: Heb. frowardness of mouth and perverseness of lips”
KJV - 6
- 7Matthew 5:37
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
KJV - 8Matthew 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 - 9
- 10Luke 6:45
“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.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Using Profanity? (6 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.”
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. strength: Heb. rock”
“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”
“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
“Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. a froward: Heb. frowardness of mouth and perverseness of lips”
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Using Profanity? (10 Verses)
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. course: Gr. wheel”
“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 Using Profanity
- 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 using profanity. 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 using 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 using 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 using profanity needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about using 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 using 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 Using Profanity?
You have studied 16 verses about using profanity. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.