Gossip is often referred to in the Bible as a harmful and destructive behavior to avoid. The Bible warns against engaging in rumor-spreading and slander, demonstrating the potential for such actions to damage relationships, disrupt communities, and even distance individuals from their spiritual path. Understanding the Bible’s messages on gossip can offer profound insights into fostering healthier interactions with others and maintaining ethical conduct.
What does the Bible Say about Gossip?
The Bible offers explicit guidance on gossip, discouraging individuals from indulging in idle talk or spreading rumors. It reminds its followers that even though gossip might seem harmless or even tantalizing at first, consequences often follow. It emphasizes the value of truth, integrity, and care in communication, pointing out that words should be used for edification rather than destruction. In several instances, the Bible encourages its followers to speak truthfully, to build others up, and to engage in conversations that contribute to peace, love, and understanding. Above all, the Bible promotes love over gossip and distant one’s self from rumor-spreading or slanderous speech.
Why is Gossip Considered Harmful According to the Bible?
From the perspective of the Bible, gossip is viewed as harmful for numerous reasons. Primarily, it undermines the unity and harmony of communities by generating mistrust, suspicion, and conflict. It damages relationships and can lead to undeserved ruin of reputations. In some instances, the Bible compares gossip to a fire that starts small, but can cause significant harm if left unchecked. Gossip is deemed destructive not just for the subjects of the rumors, but also for those who spread them, leading to a spiral of negativity that can compromise peace, trust, and understanding in a community.
Who Should Avoid Gossip According to the Bible?
The Bible addresses everyone when it speaks against gossip. It stresses that all individuals, irrespective of their spiritual, societal, or familial roles, should abstain from this detrimental conduct. This guidance is intended not just for those who listen and spread gossip, but also for those who are its subjects. The Bible encourages followers to be mindful of their words, to discern truth from falsehood, and to engage in constructive, uplifting conversation. It urges people to control their tongues, to be slow to speak, and to consciously refrain from being part of any form of gossip.
When Does the Bible Advise Against Gossip?
The Bible’s admonitions against gossip are not tied to particular situations or periods. Instead, it constantly and consistently discourages gossip. It suggests that any time is the right time to stop engaging in such behavior, whether one is at the receiving end, initiating such talk, or simply indulging in it. The Bible promotes grace, wisdom, and understanding in communication instead of rumor and slander at all times.
Where Does Gossip Lead According to the Bible?
The Bible clearly outlines the detrimental outcomes of gossip. It equates it to a destructive fire, outlining its potential to harm reputations, relationships, and communities. The Bible also warns that gossip leads to a distancing from the spiritual path, thereby negatively impacting the spiritual growth of an individual. It suggests that this behavior fosters negativity, animosity, and conflict, thus disrupting peaceful coexistence. The Bible, thus, encourages its followers to speak words of truth, love, and encouragement, highlighting that positive communication nurtures individual growth and strengthens community bonds.
Below is the full list of bible verses on gossip (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Gossip
Proverbs 16:28
“28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
Related Themes: Criticism Friendship Strife Morals
Proverbs 20:19
“19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”
Related Themes: Slander Idleness Judging Others
Ephesians 4:29
“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.”
Related Themes: Criticism Complaining Judging Others Cursing
Proverbs 11:13
“13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”
Related Themes: Friendship Rumors Idleness
Proverbs 26:20
“20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
Related Themes: Strife Bitterness Meddling
Leviticus 19:16
“16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.”
Related Themes: Arguing False Accusations Slander
Proverbs 18:8
“8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”
1 Timothy 5:13
“13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”
Related Themes: Idleness Busybodies Letting Go
2 Corinthians 12:20
“20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:”
Related Themes: Bitterness Arguing Strife Sin
Psalm 34:13
“13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying Understanding Truth
James 1:26
“26 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.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Hypocrisy Judging Others Cursing
Proverbs 10:18
“18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.”
Exodus 23:1
“1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”
Related Themes: Social Justice False Accusations Justice Lying
James 4:11
“11 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.”
Related Themes: Criticism Judging Others
Psalm 101:5
“5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.”
Romans 1:29
“29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”
Related Themes: Bitterness Greed
Proverbs 6:16-19
“16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Related Themes: Abomination Lying Pride
Proverbs 21:23
“23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
Related Themes: Resolving Conflict Arguing Self-Control Cursing
Proverbs 26:22
“22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”
Proverbs 11:9
“9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.”
Related Themes: Reaping Reputation Hypocrisy Slander
Proverbs 17:4
“4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.”
Related Themes: Lying Telling The Truth
Proverbs 17:9
“9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Forgiveness Love Friendship
Titus 3:2
“2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Related Themes: Humility Judging Others Gentleness Meekness
Psalm 141:3
“3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Related Themes: Communication Silence Self-Control Speech
Proverbs 25:23
“23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”
Matthew 12:36
“36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Related Themes: Idleness Fighting Slander Accountability
Proverbs 18:21
“21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Related Themes: Life New Life Self-Control Attitude
Exodus 20:16
“16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying Reputation False Accusations
Philippians 4:8
“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.”
Related Themes: Lust Attitude Complaining
Proverbs 10:19
“19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”
Related Themes: Communication Words Speaking Up Wisdom
