calling names
What does the Bible say about calling names? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
17 passages · most helpful first
29Let no evil words proceed from your mouth, but only what is good, toward the edification of faith, so as to bestow grace upon those who listen.
22But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell.
9By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
8But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth.
1Therefore, set aside all malice and all deceitfulness, as well as falseness and envy and every detraction.
2to speak evil of no one, not to be litigious, but to be reserved, displaying all meekness toward all men.
16But avoid profane or empty talk. For these things advance one greatly in impiety.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
12Whoever despises his friend is destitute in heart. But the prudent man will remain silent.
1A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.
26But if anyone considers himself to be religious, but he does not restrain his tongue, but instead seduces his own heart: such a one’s religion is vanity.
11Brothers, do not choose to slander one another. Whoever slanders his brother, or whoever judges his brother, slanders the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
3Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
18But what proceeds from the mouth, goes forth from the heart, and those are the things that defile a man.
18He who makes promises is also jabbed, as if with a sword, in conscience. But the tongue of the wise is reasonable.
31Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and outcry and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice.
9The pretender deceives his friend by mouth. But the just shall be freed by knowledge.