What the Bible says about Gossip & How to Avoid it

Last Updated on November 22, 2024 by Andrea

The Trouble with Gossip 

“Did you hear that Suzette is leaving her husband?” one woman asks her friend. Later in the day this same woman says to her prayer partner, “Let’s be sure we pray for Suzette. She’s leaving her husband, you know…?”

Both statements qualify as gossip. One is more overt than the other, but prayer requests on someone else’s behalf also counts as gossip.

Gossip is something we all know about and have likely encountered at some point in our lives. Whether it’s sharing juicy details about a celebrity or whispering about a friend’s personal life, gossip has a way of sneaking into our conversations. But what does the Bible say about it? 

As harmless as gossip might seem at first glance, the words of a gossip can lead to broken trust, hurt feelings, and damaged relationships. The Bible has a lot to say about the power of our words—and the consequences of using them carelessly. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Scripture teaches us about gossip, exploring verses that give us wisdom and guidance on how to avoid its pitfalls. 

Before we can know the way God wants us to speak, we need to understand what His Word says about how NOT to speak. Sometimes are easier than others to teach our kids about communication. Yet doing so is crucial for raising children to love and serve the Lord.

As you look through the verses, you’ll note as we look at the verses related to gossip that lying is often tied to it. There’s a reason for that. Let’s dive in and see how we can align our speech with the values God calls us to uphold.

Bible Verses about Gossip (in Book order for easy reference)

Old Testament

1. Exodus 20:16 ESV You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
2. Exodus 23:1 ESV You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
3. Leviticus 19:16 ESV 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.
4. Psalm 31:18 ESV Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
5. Psalm 41:6 ESV And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
6. Psalm 41:7 ESV All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
7. Psalm 50:20 ESV You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
8. Psalm 101:5 ESV Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
9. Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
10. Proverbs 10:18 ESV The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
11. Proverbs 10:19 ESV When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
12. Proverbs 11:9 ESV With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
13. Proverbs 11:12 ESV Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
14. Proverbs 11:13 ESV Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
15. Proverbs 12:22 ESV Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
16. Proverbs 13:3 ESV Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
17. Proverbs 15:4 ESV A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
18. Proverbs 16:27 ESV A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
19. Proverbs 16:28 ESV A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
20. Proverbs 17:4 ESV An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
21. Proverbs 17:9 ESV Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
22. Proverbs 18:6-7 ESV A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
23. Proverbs 18:7-8 ESV A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a whisperer are like choice morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
24. Proverbs 19:5 ESV A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
25. Proverbs 19:9 ESV A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
26. Proverbs 20:19 ESV Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
27. Proverbs 25:9-10 ESV Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, lest he who hears you
28. Proverbs 25:23 ESV The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
29. Proverbs 26:22 ESV The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
30. Proverbs 15:1 ESV A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
31. Proverbs 26:28 ESV A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
32. Proverbs 26:17 ESV Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
33. Proverbs 26:20-22 ESV For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
34. Jeremiah 6:28 ESV They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly.
35. Ezekiel 36:3 ESV Therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: Precisely because they made you desolate and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became the talk and evil gossip of the people,

New Testament

1. Romans 1:28-32 ESV And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
2. 1 Timothy 5:13-14 ESV 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. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
3. 2 Timothy 2:16 ESV But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
4. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 ESV For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
5. Ephesians 4:31 ESV Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
6. Romans 1:29-30 ESV They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
7. James 1:26 ESV If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
8. James 3:5 ESV 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!
9. James 3:6 ESV And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
10. James 3:8 ESV But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
11. James 4:11 ESV Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
12. James 4:17 ESV So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What Does it Mean, Though?

That’s a lot of verses, I know. But htat should say how much God detests lying gossipers. Even if the gossip is “true” it’s still evil to God. Here’s what we can learn from these verses.

Proverbs

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about gossip. And that makes sense since this book is one of wisdom. So we can learn a lot about how to live by studying the book of Proverbs. Fun fact – there are 31 chapters in Proverbs so you could read one each day of the month. If you did this all year long you would gain tremendous wisdom! I urge you to do this with a translation that is easy for kids to understand and share it with them before bed. New Living Translation is a good one.

We see in the book of Proverbs that liars and gossipers will come to ruin. They are often called fools, too. These behaviors also stir up anger and that’s never good for our relationships. The kingdom of God is not about anger, but about love.

How God Sees Gossip

All of these verses show us how God sees lying and gossip, but the New Testament verses clearly list these behaviors on lists of those that God despises. If we speak evil about someone else (including gossiping about them) we are speaking evil against the law (God). These individuals are stubbornly rebellious, pulling away from God.

The Tongue

The New Testament has lots to say about the tongue. It’s a tiny member of our body but it causes tremendous damage to our relationships. People who can “bridle the tongue” are rare. The tongue (words we say) is like a fire, causing damage everywhere it touches. We aren’t supposed to speak evil (lie or gossip) about others but show them love.

This is a long list of what NOT to do. That begs the question – what does God expect from us? Well, I wrote an entire book about communication and the Bible that you’ll see soon. Until then, here are sone verses that direct us what TO say, if we are avoiding lying and gossip.

Verses about How we Should Speak (in Book order for easy reference)

Old Testament

1. Psalm 15:1-5 ESV A Psalm of David. O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
2. Psalm 34:13 ESV Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
3. Psalm 141:3 ESV Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
4. Proverbs 10:19 ESV When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
5. Proverbs 11:13 ESV Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
6. Proverbs 13:3 ESV Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
7. Proverbs 15:1 ESV A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
8. Proverbs 15:4 ESV A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
9. Proverbs 17:9 ESV Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
10. Proverbs 18:21 ESV Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
11. Proverbs 21:23 ESV Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
12. Proverbs 26:20 ESV For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

New Testament

1. Matthew 7:1 ESV Judge not, that you be not judged.
2. Matthew 7:12 ESV So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
3. Matthew 5:11 ESV Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
4. Matthew 12:36 ESV I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
5. Luke 6:31 ESV And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
6. Ephesians 4:25 ESV Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
7. Ephesians 4:29 ESV 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.
8. Philippians 4:8 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9. Colossians 3:8 ESV But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
10. Colossians 4:6 ESV Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
11. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12. 1 Timothy 3:9-11 ESV They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
13. 1 Timothy 3:11 ESV Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
14. Titus 2:2-3 ESV Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good…
15. Titus 3:1-2 ESV Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
16. Titus 3:2 ESV To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
17. James 3:2 ESV For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

What do these Verses Mean?

We see here that controlling the tongue is a challenge only God can handle (see Psalm 141:3, one of my favorites).

When we honor and fear the Lord we watch what we say. We are careful to show love to others instead of backbiting and lying.

We are told to put away all the negative communication and emotional patterns. Minding our own business is prized by God. There are several verses that talk about the role of women in families and in church and on every list is the fact that they should not be slanderers (lying, gossiping, backbiting). Titus tells us to speak evil of no one. That about sums it up.

Gossiping, lying, backbiting, telling stories out of turn, minding other people’s business and not our own, stirring up anger and strife – these are all behaviors that do not please God. Rather, focusing on Him and loving others is what pleases Him. The best way to please God is to know and obey His Word…to trust the Holy Spirit within you, and to act in good conscience according to Scripture.

Loving and pleasing God is certainly one of my goals. These verses clearly outline what to do and not do in order to reach that goal.

What’s your favorite verse listed here? Tell us in the comments!

With love,

🌸 Andrea

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