Biblical Teaching on Controlling the Tongue and Speech
The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of controlling one's tongue and speech, presenting it as a crucial aspect of wisdom, righteousness, and spiritual maturity. This theme appears across various biblical books, from the Psalms and Proverbs to the New Testament epistles.
One of the most direct admonitions comes from Psalm 34:13, which instructs, "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech" [2]. This verse highlights two primary categories of speech to avoid: evil and deceit. The Tyndale House commentary on this passage notes that godly individuals regulate their words, recognizing that speaking evil and lying are foolish [12]. Similarly, Easton's Bible Dictionary states that evil-speaking is explicitly forbidden in passages like Titus 3:2 and James 4:11, with severe punishments denounced against it in 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 6:10. Such speech is considered abhorrent (Psalm 15:3; Proverbs 18:6, 7) and contrary to Christian character [3].
The book of Proverbs frequently addresses the dangers of uncontrolled speech. Proverbs 10:19 warns, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin." This proverb suggests that extensive speaking increases the likelihood of sin, making restraint a wise practice [4]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, elaborates on this, noting that those who speak much often speak amiss, accumulating "idle words" for which they will be held accountable. He concludes that it is good to speak little because "sin doth not cease" in a multitude of words [5]. Another Proverb states that "Having control of the tongue demonstrates wisdom" [8].
The New Testament epistle of James provides some of the most vivid imagery regarding the power and peril of the tongue. James 1:26 connects the control of one's tongue to the authenticity of one's faith, stating that if anyone considers themselves religious but does not bridle their tongue, their religion is worthless [6]. The Tyndale House commentary explains that James uses the "graphic image of the bridle in a horse’s mouth" to illustrate that the ability to control one's tongue reflects the condition of the heart and the overall direction of one's life [6]. This imagery is further developed in James 3:1-12, where the tongue is compared to a small rudder that steers a large ship or a small spark that can ignite a vast forest, emphasizing its immense power for both good and destruction.
Jewish tradition also strongly emphasizes the destructive potential of speech. The Babylonian Talmud, in Arakhin 15b, 68a, and 68b, discusses the far-reaching impact of malicious speech, comparing it to an arrow that can travel great distances. It cites Psalm 73:9 ("They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth") to illustrate that "malicious speech can reach great distances, even the distance between heaven and earth" [9, 10, 11]. Rabbi Hama, son of Rabbi Hanina, suggests that the remedy for those who engage in malicious speech is to study Torah, interpreting Proverbs 15:4 ("A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but its perverseness is a broken spirit") to mean that Torah (the "tree of life") counteracts malicious speech (the "tongue" that speaks deceit) [14]. Maimonides, in his Mishneh Torah, also touches on the control of one's voice, particularly in prayer, noting that one should not pray too loudly or silently, drawing from the example of Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1:13 [13].
Beyond specific prohibitions, the Bible also offers positive guidance for speech. Exodus 4:15 describes God's promise to Moses, "I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do," indicating divine guidance in speaking [1]. This suggests that speech, when aligned with God's will, can be an instrument of divine purpose. The early church father Gregory Thaumaturgus, as recorded in ANF Vol 6, advises using the tongue sparingly and maintaining a "calm and rightly balanced heart in the exercise of speech." He cautions against uttering foolish or absurd things, reminding believers that they speak "in the hearing of God" and should strive to speak "without offence" [7].
The biblical teaching on the tongue is comprehensive, addressing not only the content of speech but also its volume, frequency, and underlying motivation. It underscores that speech is a powerful force that requires constant vigilance and spiritual discipline.
Sources
- Exodus “You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. -- Exodus 4:15”
- Psalms “Psalms 34:13 (BSB) — Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Evil-speaking — Is expressly forbidden (Titus 3:2; James 4:11), and severe punishments are denounced against it (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10). It is spoken of also with abhorrence (Ps. 15:3; Prov. 18:6, 7), and is foreign to the whole Christian character and the example of Christ.”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 10:19: Much speech involves risk of sin; hence the wisdom of restraining the tongue (Psa 39:1; Jam 1:26).”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 10:19: We are here admonished concerning the government of the tongue, that necessary duty of a Christian. 1. It is good to say little, because in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, or sin doth not cease. Usually, those that speak much speak much amiss, and among many words there cannot but be many idle words, which they must shortly give an account of. Those that love to hear themselves talk do not consider what work they are making for repentance; for that will be wanted, and first or last will be had, where there wanteth not sin. 2. It is therefore good ”
- James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 1:26: 1:26-27 control (literally bridle) your tongue: James uses the graphic image of the bridle in a horse’s mouth to say that people’s ability to control their tongue indicates the condition of their heart and the whole direction of their life (cp. 3:1-13). • Orphans and widows were the most helpless members of ancient society. They were dependent upon the care of others, since the husband and father was the means of economic support and social contact (Exod 22:22-24; Deut 10:18). Christians are called to take care of the helpless (cp. 1 Tim 5:3-16). • In James, the wo”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 6: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius, Julius Africanus, Methodius, Arnobius — CHAP. V. (part 1): Moreover, it is a good thing to use the tongue sparingly, and to keep a calm and rightly balanced(9) heart in the exercise of speech.(10) For it is not right to give utterance in words to things that are foolish and absurd, or to all that occur to the mind; but we ought to know and reflect, that though we are far separated from heaven, we speak in the hearing of God, and that it is good for us to speak without offence. For as dreams and visions of many kinds attend manifold cares of mind, so ”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 13:3: 13:3 Having control of the tongue demonstrates wisdom (see Jas 3:1-12).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Arakhin 68b.30:23: If you say that just as an arrow can kill only within the distance it can be shot, which is up to about forty or fifty cubits, so too a tongue can kill only from up to forty or fifty cubits, therefore the verse teaches: “They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth” (Psalms 73:9). This teaches that malicious speech can reach great distances, even the distance between heaven and earth.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Arakhin 68a.30:23: If you say that just as an arrow can kill only within the distance it can be shot, which is up to about forty or fifty cubits, so too a tongue can kill only from up to forty or fifty cubits, therefore the verse teaches: “They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth” (Psalms 73:9). This teaches that malicious speech can reach great distances, even the distance between heaven and earth.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Arakhin 15b.23: If you say that just as an arrow can kill only within the distance it can be shot, which is up to about forty or fifty cubits, so too a tongue can kill only from up to forty or fifty cubits, therefore the verse teaches: “They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth” (Psalms 73:9). This teaches that malicious speech can reach great distances, even the distance between heaven and earth.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 34:13: 34:13 Godly people control their words; speaking evil and telling lies are foolish (see 10:7; cp. 17:1).”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 5:9: Control of one's voice: What is implied? A person should not raise his voice during his Amidah , 1 Berachot 31a explains that these laws are derived from the description of Channah's prayer (I Samuel 1:13 : "Channah spoke unto her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard." nor should he pray silently. 2 i.e., merely contemplating on the words of prayer in his heart. The Jerusalem Talmud, Berachot 4:1, states that the phrase, "only her lips moved," implies that she was speaking, not only thinking t”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Arakhin 15b.16: Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina says: What is the remedy for those who speak malicious speech? If he is a Torah scholar, let him study Torah, as it is stated: “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but its perverseness is a broken spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). And the word “tongue” means nothing other than malicious speech, as it is stated: “Their tongue is a sharpened arrow; it speaks deceit” (Jeremiah 9:7). And the word “tree” means nothing other than Torah, as it is stated: “It is a tree of life to them that lay hold of it” (Proverbs 3:18). And if he is an ignor”