What Does the Bible Say About Gossipers?

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We belittle gossip too much. Running your mouth hurts others, offends God, and damages yourself.

Here is what the Bible says about gossipers.

  • Exodus 23:1 – You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
  • Leviticus 19:16 – You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
  • Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
  • Psalm 101:5 – Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
  • Psalm 141:3 – Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
  • Proverbs 10:19 – When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
  • Proverbs 11:9 – With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
  • Proverbs 11:13 – Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
  • Proverbs 13:3 – Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
  • Proverbs 16:28 – A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
  • Proverbs 17:9 – Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
  • Proverbs 20:19 – Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
  • Proverbs 21:23 – Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
  • Proverbs 26:20 – For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
  • Matthew 12:36 – I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.
  • Romans 1:29 – They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips.
  • Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
  • 1 Timothy 5:13 – Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
  • 2 Timothy 2:16 – But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.
  • James 1:26 – If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
  • James 3:5 – So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!