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, Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
• Prov 16:27A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
• Mark 7:15There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
• Matt 15:11–20That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
• Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Mark 7:20–22He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
• Luke 16:24He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’
• Col 3:8–9but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
• Ps 140:3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
• Prov 6:19a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
• Matt 12:32–36Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
• Ps 64:3who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,
• Prov 7:21–23With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
• Rom 3:13–14“Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”;
• Jude 1:8–10Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
• Prov 26:20–21For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
• Acts 6:13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
• Mark 14:55–57Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none.
• 3 Jn 1:10Therefore if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.
• Acts 5:3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
• 2 Sam 19:43The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more claim to David than you. Why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?” The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
• Jas 2:7Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
• Rom 16:17–18Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.
• 2 Th 2:9–12even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
• 2 Pet 2:1–2But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
• Eph 5:3–4But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
• Titus 1:11whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake.
• Rev 2:14–15But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
• Matt 12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
• Jude 1:15–18to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
• Rev 13:1–5Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.
• Rev 13:14He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.
• Isa 30:27Behold, Yahweh’s name comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire.
• Acts 20:30Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
• 2 Pet 3:3knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts,
• Jer 20:10For I have heard the defaming of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.”
• Prov 1:10–14My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
• Judg 16:15–20She said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.”
• Matt 5:22But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
• 2 Sam 13:26–29Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

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