What Does the Bible Say About Gossip?
What Does the Bible Say About Gossip? The Bible strongly condemns gossip as destructive, calling it a fire that separates friends and warning that the tongue holds the power of life and death.
Key verse: Proverbs 16:28 (KJV)
The Bible strongly condemns gossip as destructive, calling it a fire that separates friends and warning that the tongue holds the power of life and death.
The Bible strongly condemns gossip as destructive, calling it a fire that separates friends and warning that the tongue holds the power of life and death.
"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends." — Proverbs 16:28 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Scripture consistently warns against gossip and tale-bearing. Proverbs 16:28 says 'a whisperer separateth chief friends.' Proverbs 18:8 notes that gossip's words are like wounds that go deep. James 3:5-8 describes the tongue as a small fire that can set a whole forest ablaze—'an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.' Paul lists gossip among the sins of the unrighteous (Romans 1:29) and told Titus older women should not be 'false accusers' (Titus 2:3). The antidote to gossip is speaking truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), building others up (Ephesians 4:29), and going directly to someone who has offended you (Matthew 18:15) rather than talking about them to others.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Gossip?
What the Bible teaches about gossip, slander, and the destructive power of careless words.
Key Scripture References
"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
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Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Charles Wesley • 1739
Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Proverbs. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Proverbs on day 159 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Does the Bible Say About Gossip?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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