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 from a deceitful tongue.
• Prov 16:27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
• Mark 7:15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
• Matt 15:11–20Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
• Prov 15:1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
• Mark 7:20–22And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
• Luke 16:24And he 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 tormented in this flame.
• Col 3:8–9But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
• Ps 140:3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
• Prov 6:19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
• Matt 12:32–36And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
• Ps 64:3Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
• Prov 7:21–23With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
• Rom 3:13–14Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
• Jude 1:8–10Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
• Prov 26:20–21Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
• Acts 6:13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
• Mark 14:55–57And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
• 3 Jn 1:10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
• Acts 5:3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
• 2 Sam 19:43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
• Jas 2:7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
• Rom 16:17–18Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
• 2 Th 2:9–12Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
• 2 Pet 2:1–2But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
• Eph 5:3–4But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
• Titus 1:11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
• Rev 2:14–15But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
• Matt 12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
• Jude 1:15–18To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
• Rev 13:1–5And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
• Rev 13:14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
• Isa 30:27Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
• Acts 20:30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
• 2 Pet 3:3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
• Jer 20:10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
• Prov 1:10–14My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
• Judg 16:15–20And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
• Matt 5:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
• 2 Sam 13:26–29Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

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