Gossip is one of the most destructive habits that can harm relationships, reputations, and communities. It often spreads untruths, stirs conflict, and divides families, friends, and even churches. The Bible repeatedly warns against gossip and slander, emphasizing the importance of controlling our words, speaking truth, and promoting peace.
God understands the power of words; they can heal or hurt, build up or tear down. Gossip not only damages others, but it can also corrupt the heart of the person speaking it. Scripture calls believers to integrity, honesty, and love in communication. By meditating on Bible verses about gossip, we are reminded to avoid idle chatter, guard our tongues, and speak words that encourage, uplift, and reflect God’s character.
This compilation of 50 Bible verses highlights God’s perspective on gossip, slander, and deceitful talk. Whether you struggle with speaking negatively about others or want guidance on handling gossip around you, these verses provide wisdom, correction, and encouragement. They serve as a powerful reminder to honor God through our words and to foster unity, understanding, and love in every conversation.
50 Most Powerful Bible Verses About Gossip
- Proverbs 16:28 – “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
- Proverbs 20:19 – “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”
- Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
- Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
- James 3:5–6 – “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil”
- James 1:26 – “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
- Proverbs 26:20 – “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”
- Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”
- Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
- Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
- Psalm 52:2 – “You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah.”
- Proverbs 17:9 – “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
- Matthew 12:36 – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
- Proverbs 10:18 – “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
- Proverbs 10:18 – “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
- Proverbs 26:20 – “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”
- Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”
- Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
- Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
- Proverbs 16:28 – “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
- Proverbs 25:9–10 – “When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret, or the one who hears it may shame you, and you will lose your good reputation.”
- Ephesians 4:31 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
- Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
- Colossians 3:8 – “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
- James 3:8–10 – “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
- Proverbs 14:5 – “An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.”
- 1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to say.”
- Proverbs 29:11 – “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
- Matthew 15:18 – “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
- Proverbs 12:18 – “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
- Proverbs 21:23 – “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
- Proverbs 10:19 – “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”
- Proverbs 29:12 – “If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.”
- Ecclesiastes 10:20 – “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”
- Proverbs 26:22 – “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
- Romans 1:29 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 – “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.”
- 1 Peter 2:1 – “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
- Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
- Proverbs 11:9 – “With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.”
- James 3:2 – “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”
- Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
- Exodus 23:1 – “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.”
- Proverbs 26:24–25 – “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.”
- Psalm 15:3 – “Whoever does not slander with their tongue and does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.”
- Proverbs 25:18 – “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.”
- 1 Timothy 6:4 – “They are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions.”
- Proverbs 16:27 – “A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.”
- Matthew 12:36–37 – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- Ephesians 5:11 – “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Conclusion
Gossip can quietly destroy relationships, break trust, and sow discord in families, communities, and even churches. The Bible repeatedly warns us about the power of our words and the danger of speaking carelessly. These 50 powerful verses remind us that God values truth, integrity, and love in communication, calling us to avoid slander, idle chatter, and harmful speech.
Through Scripture, we learn that words have the power to build up or tear down, to heal or wound. Proverbs emphasizes the destructiveness of gossip and the importance of discretion, while the New Testament encourages believers to use speech to encourage and uplift others. Even small words can have lasting consequences, so God calls us to cultivate wisdom, self-control, and grace in what we say.
By reflecting on these verses, we are reminded to guard our tongues, resist the temptation to spread rumors, and pursue peace in every conversation. Speaking truth in love not only honors God but also strengthens relationships and fosters unity. As we align our speech with God’s Word, we can become instruments of encouragement, blessing, and healing, leaving gossip and harmful talk behind.
