It’s easy to fall into the trap of speaking negatively about others, but the Bible makes it clear that gossip is not in line with God’s will.
It is among the most destructive forces in relationships, communities, and churches.
It damages reputations, creates division, and undermines trust.
God calls us to speak life, not death, into the lives of others.
Today, the scripture highlights the power of words, the importance of guarding our tongues, and the call to live in peace with one another.
Bible Verses About Gossip
1. Proverbs 16:28 – Divisive Words
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
Gossip has the power to destroy relationships. This verse warns us that speaking ill of others divides even the closest of friendships.
Living with a commitment to truth and peace ensures that we avoid divisive words and build healthy, trusting relationships.
2. Proverbs 11:13 – Faithful in Concealing Secrets
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
Gossip involves betraying trust. This verse reminds us that trustworthiness is key in maintaining healthy relationships and fostering peace.
Living with integrity ensures that we protect others’ confidence, building stronger, more faithful bonds.
3. Proverbs 20:19 – The Dangers of Gossip
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”
Those who gossip are to be avoided.
This verse warns us about the dangers of surrounding ourselves with those who speak carelessly about others.
Living with discernment ensures that we distance ourselves from gossip and choose wisely who we trust.
4. James 4:11 – Don’t Speak Against Each Other
“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.”
Slandering others is a serious offense. This verse makes it clear that speaking against someone is not just harmful, but also sinful.
Living with respect for others ensures that we refrain from speaking negatively about them, instead choosing to build up and encourage.
5. Ephesians 4:29 – Speak Only What is Helpful
“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.”
Our words are meant to build others up, not tear them down. This verse calls us to speak words that are edifying and beneficial.
Living with a heart of encouragement ensures that our words always serve to lift others, rather than hurt them.
6. Proverbs 26:20 – Strife and Gossip
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”
Gossip fuels conflict, just as wood fuels a fire. This verse shows us that gossip escalates disputes and keeps conflicts alive.
Living with the intent to bring peace ensures that we avoid gossip and instead work to end strife and division.
7. Leviticus 19:16 – Do Not Spread Slander
“Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.”
God warns against spreading slander, as it endangers others. This verse emphasizes the serious harm that gossip can cause.
Living with the awareness of the damage gossip causes ensures that we guard our tongues and seek to honor others.
8. Matthew 18:15 – Address Issues Directly
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”
Instead of gossiping about others, we are called to address issues directly and privately. This verse encourages reconciliation, not division.
Living with a spirit of humility ensures that we approach others with the intent to restore, not gossip.
9. Proverbs 18:8 – The Sweetness of Gossip
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
Gossip can be tempting and feel satisfying, but it ultimately harms. This verse compares gossip to something sweet, yet dangerous.
Living with the strength to resist temptation ensures that we avoid the lure of gossip and instead speak life into situations.
10. Psalm 101:5 – The Consequences of Gossip
“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
God despises slander and gossip. This verse emphasizes that those who engage in gossip will not go unpunished.
Living with the understanding of God’s judgment against gossip helps us avoid it and choose words that are pleasing to Him.
11. Proverbs 12:18 – Words Can Hurt
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Words can either heal or hurt. This verse reminds us that reckless words, including gossip, can cause lasting pain.
Living with the wisdom of God ensures that our words bring healing, not harm.
12. 1 Peter 3:10 – Guard Your Tongue
“For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”
To love life and live well, we must avoid evil speech. This verse calls us to keep our tongues free from gossip and deceit.
Living with self-control ensures that our speech aligns with God’s will, building up rather than tearing down.
13. Romans 1:29 – The Downfall of Gossip
“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.”
Gossip is listed among many other serious sins. This verse warns us of the dangers of allowing gossip to take root in our lives.
Living with a commitment to purity ensures that we reject gossip and all forms of sin that harm others.
14. Proverbs 4:24 – Speak with Integrity
“Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”
This verse calls us to avoid corrupt speech, including gossip. It reminds us to speak with integrity and avoid language that hurts others.
Living with integrity ensures that our words reflect the righteousness of God, building others up instead of tearing them down.
15. Proverbs 15:4 – A Gentle Tongue
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
A gentle tongue brings healing, while a perverse tongue—like gossip—destroys the spirit. This verse contrasts the power of words to either heal or harm.
Living with a gentle spirit ensures that our words bring comfort and encouragement, not destruction.
16. Galatians 5:15 – Avoiding Division
“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Gossip and division go hand in hand. This verse warns us that gossip and harsh words lead to destruction.
Living with a commitment to unity ensures that we avoid gossip and seek to foster harmony in all relationships.
17. Proverbs 17:9 – Love Covers All
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
Love covers offenses, but gossip spreads them. This verse calls us to protect relationships by choosing love over gossip.
Living with a heart of love ensures that we seek to protect others’ reputations and promote unity rather than division.
18. James 1:26 – Bridle Your Tongue
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
A controlled tongue is a sign of true religion. This verse underscores the importance of guarding our words to avoid gossip and other harmful speech.
Living with self-control ensures that our words align with our faith and glorify God.
19. Proverbs 25:9-10 – Settle Disputes Without Gossip
“If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence, or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.”
Disputes should be handled with integrity, not by gossiping about others. This verse reminds us that speaking ill of others can come back to harm us.
Living with discretion ensures that we deal with disputes in a way that honors others and upholds the truth.
20. 2 Corinthians 12:20 – Avoid Divisiveness
“I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery in which they have indulged.”
Gossip is often tied to divisiveness and sin. This verse shows how unchecked sin, including gossip, can harm the entire community.
Living with a commitment to holiness ensures that we reject gossip and all behaviors that divide and destroy.
21. Matthew 12:36 – Words Are Accounted For
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
We will be held accountable for our words, including gossip. This verse reminds us that our speech reflects our hearts and that we must be mindful of how we speak.
Living with the understanding that our words matter ensures that we speak carefully, avoiding gossip and harmful speech.
22. Psalm 141:3 – Set a Guard Over My Mouth
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
This prayer asks God to help us guard our speech. It’s a reminder that our words should be carefully watched to prevent gossip and harm.
Living with a desire for purity in speech ensures that we invite God’s help in keeping our words in check.
23. Proverbs 6:16-19 – God Hates Gossip
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
God hates gossip and division. This verse shows that gossip is not just a harmless act, but something that God detests.
Living with a fear of the Lord ensures that we avoid gossip and all forms of speech that cause harm and division.
24. Proverbs 10:19 – Guard Your Words
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”
Talking too much leads to sin, including gossip. This verse reminds us that wise people control their speech and avoid idle or harmful words.
Living with prudence ensures that we speak only when necessary, choosing our words carefully and wisely.
25. Colossians 3:8 – Put Away Malice
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
Gossip is part of malice, which believers are called to put away. This verse calls us to remove harmful speech from our lives.
Living with a commitment to purity ensures that we speak in ways that are pleasing to God, avoiding gossip and malice.
26. Proverbs 21:23 – Guarding Your Mouth
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
Guarding our speech protects us from harm. This verse shows that avoiding gossip and careless speech keeps us from trouble and disaster.
Living with the discipline to guard our tongues ensures that we live wisely and avoid the consequences of harmful speech.
27. Proverbs 17:27-28 – Quietness of Speech
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
The wise use their words sparingly. This verse emphasizes that speaking less often and with restraint prevents gossip and promotes wisdom.
Living with wisdom ensures that we choose silence over gossip and use our words only for good.
28. James 3:5-6 – The Power of the Tongue
“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 among the parts of the body.”
The tongue is powerful, and gossip can cause great destruction. This verse warns us about the immense harm that can come from careless words.
Living with the understanding of the tongue’s power ensures that we use our speech to build others up, not tear them down.
29. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Protects and Trusts
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Love does not gossip; it protects others and rejoices in truth. This passage reminds us that love is the antidote to gossip and division.
Living with love ensures that we choose to protect others’ reputations and speak truth, not gossip.
30. Proverbs 15:28 – A Wise Heart Guards Its Speech
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”
A wise heart carefully considers its words, while the wicked speak without thinking. This verse calls us to be thoughtful and intentional with our speech.
Living with wisdom ensures that we speak carefully, avoiding gossip and harmful speech.
31. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 – Don’t Listen to Gossip
“Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you— for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.”
We should avoid listening to gossip. This verse reminds us that we all have been guilty of speaking ill of others, and hearing gossip only perpetuates harm.
Living with the choice to ignore gossip ensures that we protect our hearts and avoid spreading division.
32. Psalm 101:5 – No Gossip Among Us
“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.”
God does not tolerate slander. This verse reminds us that gossip, even in secret, is a sin that must be silenced.
Living with the desire for purity ensures that we reject gossip in all forms and choose to speak life instead.
33. 1 Timothy 5:13 – Gossip and Idleness
“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.”
Gossip often stems from idleness. This verse warns us against being busybodies who speak about others when we should be focusing on our own lives.
Living with a purpose ensures that we stay focused on God’s work, avoiding gossip and idleness.
34. 2 Corinthians 12:20 – Divisive Behavior
“I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery in which they have indulged.”
Gossip often leads to division. This verse shows that the Apostle Paul was concerned about the damage done by unrepentant sin, including gossip.
Living with the goal of unity ensures that we reject gossip and seek reconciliation in all our relationships.
35. Proverbs 12:22 – God Detests Lying Lips
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
God detests lies, including those spoken in gossip. This verse calls us to speak truthfully, rejecting gossip and dishonesty.
Living with a commitment to truth ensures that our words honor God and promote peace and trust in our relationships.
Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Gossip
The Bible clearly states that gossip is harmful and destructive.
It tears down relationships, creates division, and damages reputations.
As believers, we are called to speak life, not death, into the lives of others.
These verses remind us of the power of our words and the importance of guarding our tongues.
Let them serve as a guide in choosing words that build up, encourage, and promote unity.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wisdom You provide in Your Word.
Please help me to guard my tongue and speak words that build up others, not tear them down.
Give me the strength to resist the temptation to gossip and to promote peace and unity instead.
May my speech reflect Your love and truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.