What Does the Bible Say About the Power of the Tongue?
What Does the Bible Say About the Power of the Tongue? The Bible teaches that the tongue has extraordinary power — for both life and death — and calls believers to guard their speech.
Key verse: Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
The Bible teaches that the tongue has extraordinary power — for both life and death — and calls believers to guard their speech.
The Bible teaches that the tongue has extraordinary power — for both life and death — and calls believers to guard their speech.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." — Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
James chapter 3 is the Bible's most extensive teaching on the tongue. James compares it to a small rudder that steers a great ship, and a tiny spark that sets a forest ablaze: 'The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity' (James 3:6). Yet the same tongue can bless God and edify others. Proverbs 18:21 declares, 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.' Proverbs 15:1 teaches, 'A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.' Proverbs 12:18 says, 'The tongue of the wise is health.' Jesus warned that 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh' (Matthew 12:34), connecting speech to the condition of the heart. Controlling the tongue is presented as one of the highest marks of spiritual maturity (James 3:2).
Topic Overview
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Key Scripture References
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body."
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
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Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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What Does the Bible Say About the Power of the Tongue?
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Proverbs 18:21 — Meaning & Devotional
Power of Words
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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 the Power of the Tongue?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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