26 Bible Verses About Gossip (NIV & KJV)

The tongue is a small part of the body, yet Scripture warns it can do enormous damage. Gossip, slander, and talebearing tear apart friendships, sow division, and wound the innocent. The Bible takes our words seriously, teaching that they carry the power of life and death and that careless speech grieves God and harms others.

These Bible verses about gossip reveal how destructive idle and malicious talk can be, and how God calls His people to a higher standard of speech. From the wisdom of Proverbs to the warnings of the apostles, Scripture urges us to guard our mouths, refuse to spread tales, and use our words to build others up.

This collection of Bible Scriptures is for anyone seeking to tame the tongue and to speak with the truth, grace, and love that honor God.

⚠️ The Dangers of the Talebearer

Scripture warns that gossip wounds deeply and tears apart even the closest friendships.

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”— Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”— Proverbs 11:13 (KJV)

“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”— Proverbs 18:8 (NIV)“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”— Proverbs 18:8 (KJV)

“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”— Proverbs 26:20 (NIV)“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”— Proverbs 26:20 (KJV)

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”— Proverbs 16:28 (NIV)“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”— Proverbs 16:28 (KJV)

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”— Proverbs 20:19 (NIV)“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”— Proverbs 20:19 (KJV)

🔥 The Power of the Tongue

The Bible describes the tongue as a small but powerful force capable of great harm.

“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.”— James 3:5 (NIV)“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”— James 3:5 (KJV)

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”— James 3:6 (NIV)“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”— James 3:6 (KJV)

“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”— James 3:8 (NIV)“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”— James 3:8 (KJV)

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”— Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”— Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)

“The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.”— Proverbs 18:7 (NIV)“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”— Proverbs 18:7 (KJV)

🚫 God Condemns Slander and Backbiting

Scripture lists gossip and slander among the sins God hates and forbids.

““ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”— Leviticus 19:16 (NIV)“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.”— Leviticus 19:16 (KJV)

“slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;”— Romans 1:30 (NIV)“Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,”— Romans 1:30 (KJV)

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”— James 4:11 (NIV)“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”— James 4:11 (KJV)

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,”— Proverbs 6:16-17 (NIV)“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”— Proverbs 6:16-17 (KJV)

“a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”— Proverbs 6:19 (NIV)“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”— Proverbs 6:19 (KJV)

🤐 Guarding Your Words

The Bible calls us to control our speech, holding our tongues and choosing words wisely.

“keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”— Psalm 34:13 (NIV)“Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”— Psalm 34:13 (KJV)

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”— Proverbs 21:23 (NIV)“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”— Proverbs 21:23 (KJV)

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,”— James 1:19 (NIV)“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”— James 1:19 (KJV)

“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”— Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”— Proverbs 10:19 (KJV)

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”— Proverbs 17:28 (NIV)“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”— Proverbs 17:28 (KJV)

💬 Speaking Words of Grace

Instead of gossip, God calls His people to speak truth, kindness, and edification.

“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.”— Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”— Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”— Colossians 4:6 (NIV)“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”— Colossians 4:6 (KJV)

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.”— Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”— Proverbs 25:11 (KJV)

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”— Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”— Proverbs 16:24 (KJV)

“The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.”— Proverbs 10:20 (NIV)“The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.”— Proverbs 10:20 (KJV)

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”— Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”— Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Gossip?

The Bible takes gossip seriously, treating it as a sin that wounds others and divides communities. Scripture describes the gossip as a "talebearer" whose words "are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly" (Proverbs 18:8). It warns that "a whisperer separateth chief friends" (Proverbs 16:28) and lists backbiting and whispering among the sins that grieve God. The tongue, though small, is "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8), and Scripture urges us to keep it from evil.

In place of gossip, the Bible calls believers to speak with grace and truth. We are commanded to let "no corrupt communication" come from our mouths, but only words that edify and "minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). Guarding our speech requires being "swift to hear, slow to speak" (James 1:19) and refusing to spread tales. When we use our words to build others up rather than tear them down, we reflect the character of God and protect the peace of those around us.

Taming the tongue is a lifelong discipline that honors God and blesses others. To grow further, explore these Bible verses about lying, these Bible verses about self-control, and these Bible verses about kindness.