Throughout the Bible, lips are highlighted as tools capable of both good and evil, used to communicate truth and love or deceit and malice.
What the Bible Teaches About the Power of Words
In the context of the Bible, lips symbolize the spoken word and the power it holds. Words can shape reality, influence feelings, inspire faith and even alter history. The Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament emphasizes the destructive power of deceitful speech, admonishing those who use their words to deceive, malign or incite conflicts. In contrast, it also praises the use of lips for speaking truth, providing comfort and spreading kindness.
Why Lips are Symbols of Morality in the Bible
The Bible often references lips as a representation of moral character. Honestly, kindness, and wisdom are repeatedly associated with pure and clean lips. On the other hand, deceitful, flippant, or malicious uses of words are equated with lips that are impure or dirty. The emphasis is that the words one choses to speak can become a mirror reflecting one’s moral health and spiritual state.
Where Lips Serve as Instruments of Worship in the Bible
Beyond communication between humans, lips are portrayed in the Bible as instruments for honoring and praising God. Expectations are expressed for the faithful to use their lips in prayer, song, and declaration of faith to express their adoration and commitment to God. A recurring lesson is God’s desire for sincerity of the heart to match the words of praise spoken by the lips. The authenticity of worship, according to the Bible, is reflected not only in the choice of words but also in the integrity of the speaker’s heart.
When the Bible Speaks of Lips and Self-Control
The Bible encourages self-control when using lips for speech. Numerous verses guide followers to think before speaking, to refrain from rash or hasty pronouncements, and to guard the tongue against untruthful or harmful utterances. As a symbol, the command to keep one’s lips from speaking deceitfully serves a dual purpose. It warns of the potential personal consequences of such harmful speech, like damaged relationships, damaged reputation, or divine judgment. It also underscores a broader societal value in maintaining truth and trust within the community.
Who is Affected by the Words from Our Lips According to the Bible
The Bible teaches that the words released from our lips affect not only ourselves but also those around us. It contends that careless words can cause great harm, while kind and truth-filled words can bring comfort, peace, and harmony. Hence, the speakers hold the responsibility for their words as they have the power to inspire or dishearten, to soothe or wound, to build up or tear down. Thus, from the teachings of the Bible, mastering the art of controlling the lips is not merely personal, but an act of love and respect towards others in society, fostering harmony and aiding the overall wellbeing of the community.
Below is our full list of bible verses on lips (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Lips
Psalm 141:3
“3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Related Themes: Gossip Communication Silence Self-Control Speech
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: Gossip Criticism Complaining Judging Others Cursing
Proverbs 12:19
“19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying Telling Lies Truth
Hebrews 13:15
“15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Related Themes: Attitude Worship Pleasing God Sacrifice Music
Proverbs 15:1
“1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Related Themes: Arguing Criticism Bitterness Criticism Gossip
Proverbs 18:2
“2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”
Related Themes: Arguing Understanding Opinions Communication Assumption
Proverbs 20:15
“15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”
1 John 1:9
“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Related Themes: Repentance Forgiveness Bitterness Lust Attitude
Psalm 34:13
“13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”
Related Themes: Gossip Telling The Truth Lying Understanding Truth
Proverbs 12:22
“22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying Honesty Gossip Stealing
Psalm 34:1
“1 A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Related Themes: Thankfulness Worship
James 1:19
“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
Related Themes: Criticism Bitterness Frustration Patience Frustration
Proverbs 15:4
“4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
Related Themes: Gossip Telling The Truth Gentleness Speaking Up Speaking
Ephesians 4:25
“25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Gossip Bitterness Lying Morality
Proverbs 21:6
“6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.”
Related Themes: Business Lying Manipulation Vanity
Proverbs 19:5
“5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.”
Related Themes: Gossip Telling The Truth Betrayal Lying Bearing False Witness
Proverbs 14:5
“5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying Gossip Bearing False Witness Honesty
1 Peter 3:10
“10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Honesty Life Peace
Leviticus 19:12
“12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.”
Related Themes: Oaths
Isaiah 40:8
“8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
Related Themes: Flowers Beauty Nature Attitude Preservation
Leviticus 19:11
“11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.”
Related Themes: Business Stealing Telling The Truth Lying Gossip
Proverbs 24:28
“28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying Deceit Reputation Deception
Isaiah 6:7
“7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”
Related Themes: Guilt
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: Gossip Abomination Lying Pride
Psalm 71:23
“23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.”
Colossians 3:9-10
“9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying New Life Honesty New Beginnings
Proverbs 21:23
“23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
Related Themes: Gossip Resolving Conflict Arguing Self-Control Cursing
John 8:44
“44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lust Pride Reaping Lying
Acts 5:1-11
“1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lust Arguing Repentance
Psalm 17:1
“1 A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.”
Related Themes: Narcissism
