What Does the Bible Say About Calling Names?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 204 helpful votes

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.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 192 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

James 3:9-10 ESV / 162 helpful votes

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

1 Peter 2:1 ESV / 136 helpful votes

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 136 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Titus 3:2 ESV / 120 helpful votes

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 116 helpful votes

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 116 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 11:12 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 92 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

James 1:26 ESV / 85 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

James 4:11 ESV / 68 helpful votes

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.

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 56 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 52 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 48 helpful votes

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 44 helpful votes

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

Proverbs 10:18 ESV / 32 helpful votes

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 30 helpful votes

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 21 helpful votes

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

James 4:11-12 ESV / 20 helpful votes

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. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 16 helpful votes

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Psalm 52:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

2 John 1:9-11 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Luke 6:45 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 12 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 12 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 22:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

James 3:5-10 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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! 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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ...

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Matthew 15:18-19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Matthew 7:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Psalm 140:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

John 8:44 ESV / 7 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Matthew 17:17 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.”

1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 3:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

1 John 3:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

1 John 3:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 2:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

1 Peter 2:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

James 5:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

James 2:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

2 Timothy 2:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ...

Romans 1:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

John 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Matthew 15:18-20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Matthew 15:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 26:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Proverbs 11:12-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Proverbs 6:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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.

Proverbs 6:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,

1 Samuel 25:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

2 Peter 2:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ...

1 Timothy 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Romans 16:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

70 Bible Verses about Calling Names

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 204 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 192 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:9-10 ESV / 162 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:1 ESV / 136 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 136 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:2 ESV / 120 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 116 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 116 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:12 ESV / 97 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 92 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:26 ESV / 85 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:11 ESV / 68 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 56 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 52 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 48 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:18 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:11-12 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 52:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 John 1:9-11 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:45 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:5-10 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:18-19 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 140:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:44 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 17:17 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 3:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:18-20 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:12-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 25:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 2:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 16:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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