25 Bible Verses About Cursing (With Commentary)

The words we speak carry weight, and the Bible offers guidance on the use of curses and blessings. Join us in exploring verses that caution against cursing others and highlight the power of speaking blessings over our lives and those of others. Discover the profound impact of our words in the spiritual realm.

Also Read: Bible Verses About Focusing On God

Bible Verses About Cursing

James 3:10

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”

This verse reminds us of the power of our words. As Christians, we should be mindful of the words we speak and ensure that they are edifying and encouraging, rather than destructive. Cursing not only reflects a lack of control over our speech but also contradicts the message of love and grace that we are called to proclaim.

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.”

This verse reinforces the importance of using our words to build up and encourage others. It encourages us to guard against using language that is harmful or hurtful and instead speaks words that bring life and blessings. Our speech should always be purposeful, seeking to benefit and edify those who hear it.

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.”

As followers of Christ, we are called to put off all forms of sinful communication, including cursing. This verse reminds us to intentionally remove any ungodly speech from our lives and strive to live in alignment with the character of Christ. Our words should reflect love, kindness, and purity, rather than anger or filth.

Proverbs 13:3

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”

This verse emphasizes the importance of guarding our speech. Our words have the power to bring life or destruction, and we must be wise in choosing what we say. By being mindful of our speech and speaking with intention, we can preserve our own well-being and avoid the consequences that come with speaking rashly.

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.”

This passage reminds us of the weight of our words and the accountability we have for them. God cares about how we use our speech and holds us responsible for every word we speak, including curses. It is a sobering reminder to choose our words carefully and intentionally, knowing that they have eternal significance.

Psalm 19:14

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

This verse serves as a prayer and a reminder for us to align our words with God’s will. Instead of cursing, we should strive to speak words that are pleasing to the Lord. By surrendering our speech to God and seeking His guidance, we can ensure that our words reflect His love, grace, and righteousness.

Proverbs 15:4

“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

This verse highlights the impact of our words on others. When our speech is filled with cursing and perversity, it can harm and crush the spirits of those who hear it. On the other hand, when we speak soothing and uplifting words, we become a source of life and encouragement to others. As Christians, we should strive to be a tree of life through our speech.

Proverbs 21:23

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

By being mindful of the words we speak, we can avoid many troubles and calamities. Our words have the power to either bring peace or create chaos. This verse emphasizes the need to guard our speech and exercise self-control over our tongues, ensuring that we do not bring unnecessary harm or trouble upon ourselves or others through cursing.

1 Peter 3:10

“For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”

Our words have a direct impact on the quality of our lives. This verse encourages us to refrain from speaking evil and deceitful words, including cursing. By guarding our tongues and speaking with sincerity and truthfulness, we position ourselves to experience the abundant life and blessings that God desires for us.

Proverbs 4:24

“Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”

As followers of Christ, we are called to be set apart and to live a life of holiness. This verse reminds us to guard our speech and keep our mouths free from perversity and corrupt talk. Cursing is inconsistent with a life of holiness and purity, and we should strive to keep our words in alignment with God’s standards.

Psalm 141:3

“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

This verse serves as a prayer for God’s guidance and help in controlling our speech. It acknowledges our own weakness and dependency on God to keep our mouths in check. By inviting God to guard our mouths and watch over our lips, we recognize our need for His guidance and intervention in speaking words that honor Him.

Luke 6:45

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

This verse highlights the connection between our speech and the condition of our hearts. What we say reflects what is stored in our hearts. If our hearts are filled with cursing and evil, it will manifest in our speech. As Christians, we should strive to fill our hearts with good and godly things so that our words can be a testimony to the goodness of God.

Proverbs 16:24

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Our words have the power to bring healing and restoration. This verse emphasizes the impact of gracious and kind speech, contrasting it with the negative consequences of cursing. When we speak with grace and kindness, we bring comfort and refreshment to those who hear our words, strengthening and healing their souls.

Proverbs 10:19

“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”

In moments of anger or frustration, it can be tempting to respond with cursing or a multitude of words. However, this verse reminds us that such actions do not resolve the situation or bring an end to sin. Instead, wisdom lies in holding our tongues and refraining from contributing to strife or negativity with our speech.

Proverbs 18:21

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Our tongues have the power to bring life or death to others, depending on how we use them. This verse emphasizes the impact of our words and warns us of the consequences that come with cursing and destructive speech. As Christians, we should strive to bring life and blessings through our words, knowing that we will also reap the fruit of our speech.

Psalm 34:13

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”

This psalm serves as a reminder of the importance of guarding our speech. Cursing falls into the category of evil speech, and as followers of Christ, we are called to refrain from it. By exercising self-control over our tongues and speaking only truth and righteousness, we honor God and ensure that our words are in alignment with His will.

Proverbs 12:18

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Our words have the power to either wound or heal others. This verse cautions against reckless speech, which includes cursing, as it can cause harm and pain to those who hear it. On the other hand, wise and thoughtful speech has the power to bring healing and restoration. As Christians, we should strive to be instruments of healing through our words.

Proverbs 29:20

“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”

Hastiness in speech often leads to careless and reckless words, including cursing. This verse highlights the importance of speaking with thoughtfulness and deliberation. It warns of the consequences that come with hasty speech and encourages us to exercise wisdom and restraint in our words.

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.”

Our faith and religious practices are reflected in how we speak. This verse reminds us that if we claim to be Christians but fail to control our tongues, including cursing, our faith is empty and meaningless. As followers of Christ, we should be intentional in guarding our speech and ensuring that our words align with our profession of faith.

Proverbs 8:13

“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”

This verse teaches us that fearing the Lord involves turning away from evil, including cursing and perverse speech. As we grow in our reverence for God, we develop a genuine hatred for anything that goes against His holiness. This includes speech that is characterized by pride, arrogance, and perversity, which should have no place in the life of a Christian.

Proverbs 17:20

“One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.”

This verse highlights the connection between the condition of our hearts and the nature of our speech. When our hearts are corrupted by sin, it is reflected in our speech, including cursing. Such speech leads to trouble and brings about negative consequences. As Christians, we should strive to have pure hearts that are reflected in godly speech.

Colossians 4:6

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Our speech should be characterized by grace and wisdom. This verse reminds us to season our conversations with salt, which represents wisdom and truth. Rather than resorting to cursing, we should strive to speak in a way that is gracious, respectful, and reflective of the light of Christ in us. Through such speech, we can effectively communicate the love and truth of the Gospel to others.

Matthew 5:37

“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

This verse calls us to speak with integrity and simplicity. Our speech should be honest and straightforward, avoiding the need for cursing or swearing to emphasize our point. Cursing can often be a sign of deceit or a lack of trustworthiness. As followers of Christ, we should let our words be marked by truth and reliability.

Proverbs 21:23

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

This verse emphasizes the importance of self-control over our speech. By exercising restraint and watching our words, including refraining from cursing, we can avoid many troubles and conflicts. Our speech has the power to either inflame or diffuse a situation, and this verse reminds us of the wisdom in holding our tongues in check.

Proverbs 10:32

“The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”

Our speech is a reflection of our character. This verse contrasts the speech of the righteous, which finds favor and blessing, with the speech of the wicked, which is characterized by perversity and cursing. As Christians, we should strive to bring honor to God through our words by speaking with righteousness, truth, and kindness.

Psalm 141:3

“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

This verse serves as a prayer for God’s guidance and help in controlling our speech. It acknowledges our own weakness and dependency on God to keep our mouths in check. By inviting God to guard our mouths and watch over our lips, we recognize our need for His guidance and intervention in speaking words that honor Him.

These Bible verses provide wisdom and guidance on the topic of cursing. They emphasize the importance of guarding our speech and using our words to edify and bless others. Cursing is portrayed as inconsistent with our calling as Christians, and we are encouraged to refrain from using language that is harmful or hurtful. Our words have the power to bring life or death, and we should be mindful of the consequences they can have. By seeking God’s guidance and surrendering our speech to Him, we can ensure that our words align with His will and reflect His grace and truth.

What Does the Bible Say About Cursing?

As Christians, we are called to speak with kindness and love. The Bible teaches us to avoid using foul language and speaking in a way that is hurtful or offensive to others. In Ephesians 4:29, we are instructed to “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.”

Additionally, in Colossians 3:8, we are urged to rid ourselves of “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from [our] mouth.” This highlights the importance of controlling our words and avoiding language that is disrespectful or harmful.

Jesus also emphasized the significance of our speech, stating in Matthew 15:11 that “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” This shows that our words have the power to impact others and should be used in a way that reflects our faith and respect for others.

Ultimately, as followers of Christ, we are encouraged to use our words to uplift and encourage others, rather than using language that is vulgar, derogatory, or demeaning. Our speech should reflect the love and grace that we have received from God, and we should strive to speak in a way that honors Him and edifies those around us.