James 3:6

The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness that defiles the whole person and is itself set ablaze by hell. Uncontrolled speech is profoundly corrupting and destructive.

Cross-references · 40

• Ps 120:2–3Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.
• Prov 16:27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
• Mark 7:15Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”
• Matt 15:11–20A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”
• Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Mark 7:20–22He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.
• Luke 16:24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
• Col 3:8–9But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
• Ps 140:3They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah
• Prov 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
• Matt 12:32–36Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
• Ps 64:3who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
• Prov 7:21–23With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
• Rom 3:13–14“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”
• Jude 1:8–10Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
• Prov 26:20–21Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
• Acts 6:13where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
• Mark 14:55–57Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.
• 3 Jn 1:10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
• Acts 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
• 2 Sam 19:43“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.
• Jas 2:7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
• Rom 16:17–18Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
• 2 Th 2:9–12The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
• 2 Pet 2:1–2Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
• Eph 5:3–4But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
• Titus 1:11who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.
• Rev 2:14–15But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
• Matt 12:24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
• Jude 1:15–18to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”
• Rev 13:1–5Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
• Rev 13:14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
• Isa 30:27Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire.
• Acts 20:30Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
• 2 Pet 3:3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
• Jer 20:10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
• Prov 1:10–14My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
• Judg 16:15–20“How can you say, ‘I love you,’” she asked, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and failed to reveal to me the source of your great strength!”
• Matt 5:22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
• 2 Sam 13:26–29“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

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