What Does the Bible Say About Gossip? 15+ Verses on Taming the Tongue

"A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends."

"One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret."

"For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down."

"He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips."

"Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear."

"If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless."

"Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge."

"The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts."

"Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips."

"Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles."

"to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men."

"Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."

"In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely."

"“You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness."

"“‘You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people. “‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh."

"I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."

"For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit."

"He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends."