verbal abuse
What does the Bible say about verbal abuse? 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.
36But I say to you, that for every idle word which men will have spoken, they shall render an account in the day of judgment. 37For by your words shall you be justified, and by your words shall you be condemned.”
10Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction,
19The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit.
19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
24Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,
31Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and outcry and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice.
18He who makes promises is also jabbed, as if with a sword, in conscience. But the tongue of the wise is reasonable.
10From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
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.
1A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.
1If I were to speak in the language of men, or of Angels, yet not have charity, I would be like a clanging bell or a crashing cymbal. 2And if I have prophecy, and learn every mystery, and obtain all knowledge, and possess all faith, so that I could move mountains, yet not have charity, then I am nothing. 3And if I distribute all my goods in order to feed the poor, and if I hand over my body to be burned, yet not have charity, it offers me nothing. 4Charity is patient, is kind. Charity does not envy, does not act wrongly, is not inflated. 5Charity is not ambitious, does not seek for itself, is not provoked to anger, devises no evil. 6Charity does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth.
33Do not be led astray. Evil communication corrupts good morals.
19You know this, my most beloved brothers. So let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger.
22A short-tempered man provokes quarrels. And whoever is easily angered is more likely to sin.
4And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but educate them with the discipline and correction of the Lord.