5550 speech, negative aspects of

The sinfulness of fallen human nature can express itself in speech, provoking God’s displeasure and causing enmity and division amongst people.

Evil speech comes from a corrupt heart

Mt 12:33-35 See also Pr 2:12-15; Pr 24:1-2; Mt 15:10-11 pp Mk 7:14-15; Lk 6:43-45

Evil speech is a feature of a corrupt society

Mic 6:12-13 See also Isa 6:5; Isa 59:1-4,12-15; Jer 9:1-9; Ro 1:29-32; 2Ti 3:1-5

Evil speech provokes God’s displeasure

Pr 12:22 See also Pr 6:16-19

Kinds of evil speech

Profaning God’s name Ex 20:7 pp Dt 5:11 See also Ex 22:28; Lev 19:12; Ps 139:19-20

Lies and deceit Ps 5:9 See also Ps 36:3; Ps 52:1-4; Ps 62:4; Pr 14:5,25; Pr 15:4; Pr 17:20

Foolish boasting Ps 94:4 See also Ps 10:2-6; Ps 12:3-4; Isa 10:12-14; 2Th 2:3-4; Jas 4:13-16; 2Pe 2:17-18

Ridicule and insults Pr 11:12 See also 1Sa 17:41-44; 2Ki 2:23-24; Ne 2:19; Pr 9:7; La 2:15-16; Mt 5:22; Mt 27:39-44 pp Mk 15:29-32 pp Lk 23:35-39; Jn 9:28-29

Criticism and complaint Nu 12:1-15 See also Nu 16:1-50; 1Sa 17:28; Pr 19:13; Pr 21:9,19; Pr 25:24; Ac 11:2-3; Php 2:14-15

Slander Lev 19:16 See also 1Ki 21:1-14; Pr 10:18; Jas 4:11

Cursing Ex 21:17 See also 2Sa 16:5-8; Pr 20:20; Jas 3:9-10

Gossip Pr 16:28 See also Pr 11:13; Pr 17:9; Pr 20:19

Obscenity Eph 5:4 See also Col 3:8

Evil speech is silenced

By God’s actions Ps 107:41-42 See also Ps 63:11; Eze 16:63

By believers’blameless lives 1Pe 2:15 See also Tit 2:7-8

See also