What the Bible Says About the Tongue

Tongue comes 129 times in the King James Bible and tongues 36 times, 165 in all, in 160 verses. 105 of the 165 are in the Old Testament and 60 in the New. Psalms has the most of any book, 34, then 1 Corinthians with 22 and Proverbs with 19. The first is Genesis 10:5 and the last is Revelation 17:15.

Behind 98 of the 165 the Hebrew word is lashon, which Strong's Concordance defines as "the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)." The KJV doesn't always render it tongue. In Joshua 7:21 it's "a wedge of gold," and in Joshua 15:2 it's "the bay." In the New Testament glossa stands behind 50 of the 60, and Strong's defines it in part as "the tongue; by implication, a language." 1 Corinthians has 22 of the 165, all in chapters 12 to 14, and they're in the list below.

Below are passages on the tongue and on speech, each quoted word for word with its reference. Short notes give the Hebrew and Greek words behind the English. Some verses with tongue in them are already on the site's other pages, like Proverbs 31:26 and 1 Corinthians 13:1. They're named and linked near the end rather than quoted again. A table counts the words behind tongue, and a list gives every verse where the KJV says it.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21)

"Power" is yad, the Hebrew word for hand, so word for word it's in the hand of the tongue. Strong's calls yad "a hand" and says it's the open one, "indicating power, means, direction." The printed KJV sets "are" in italics as a word the translators supplied.

A little member (James 3:2 to 6)

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:2-6)

The letter opens "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1). "Bridle" in verse 2 is chalinagogeo, which Strong's defines as "to be a bit-leader, i.e. to curb (figuratively)." It's built on chalinos, the "bits" of verse 3, and it comes in the New Testament only here and in James 1:26. "Helm" is pedalion, which the KJV renders "rudder" in Acts 27:40, its only other place in the New Testament. "Matter" in verse 5 is hule, which Strong's defines as "a forest, i.e. (by implication) fuel." "Course" in verse 6 is trochos, "a wheel (as a runner)." Neither comes anywhere else in the New Testament. The printed KJV sets "is" and "and" in italics in verse 2, "they be" and "are" in verse 4 and "is" in verse 6.

The tongue can no man tame (James 3:7 to 10)

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (James 3:7-10)

"Tame" is damazo, which Strong's defines simply as "to tame." It comes four times in the New Testament, three of them here. The fourth is Mark 5:4, "neither could any man tame him." "Deadly" is thanatephoros, "death-bearing, i.e. fatal," and "similitude" is homoiosis, "assimilation, i.e. resemblance." Each comes only here in the New Testament, and so does chre, the "ought" of verse 10. The printed KJV sets "it is" in italics in verse 8.

Bridleth not his tongue (James 1:26)

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (James 1:26)

"Bridleth" is chalinagogeo, the verb of James 3:2. "Religious" is threskos, which Strong's defines as "ceremonious in worship (as demonstrative), i.e. pious." This is its only place in the New Testament. The printed KJV sets "is" in italics.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4)

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)

"Wholesome" is marpe, which Strong's defines as "properly, curative, i.e. literally (concretely) a medicine, or (abstractly) a cure." It's also the "health" of Proverbs 12:18 below. The same four words, a tree of life, come three more times in Proverbs, at 3:18, 11:30 and 13:12. The printed KJV sets "is" in italics twice.

The tongue of the wise is health (Proverbs 12:18 and 19)

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. (Proverbs 12:18)

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (Proverbs 12:19)

"Health" is marpe, the "wholesome" of Proverbs 15:4. "Speaketh" is bata, which Strong's defines as "to babble; hence, to vociferate angrily." "Piercings" is madqarah, "a wound," found only here in the Hebrew Bible. "A moment" is raga, which Strong's says is used "specifically, to wink (from the motion of the eye-lids)." The printed KJV sets "is" in italics in both verses.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue (Proverbs 21:23)

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23)

Both keepeths are shamar, which Strong's defines as "properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard." Proverbs 13:3 has similar words, "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life," with natsar, "to guard," behind its first keepeth.

A soft tongue breaketh the bone (Proverbs 25:15)

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. (Proverbs 25:15)

"Long forbearing" is orek, "length," and aph, which Strong's defines as "properly, the nose or nostril" and also, "from the rapid breathing in passion," as ire. "Soft" is rak, "tender (literally or figuratively); by implication, weak." Rak and aph both come in Proverbs 15:1 too, which is on the anger page.

He that refraineth his lips (Proverbs 10:19 and 20)

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. (Proverbs 10:20)

"Wanteth" is chadal, which Strong's defines as "properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist." "Refraineth" is chasak, "to restrain or (reflex.) refrain." "Choice" is bachar, "properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select." The printed KJV sets "is" in italics in 10:19 and "is as" and "is" in 10:20.

Where there is no talebearer (Proverbs 26:20 and 18:8)

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. (Proverbs 26:20)

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (Proverbs 18:8)

"Talebearer" is nirgan, which Strong's defines as "a slanderer" and derives from a root "meaning to roll to pieces." It comes four times in the Hebrew Bible, all in Proverbs. The KJV renders it talebearer in 18:8, 26:20 and 26:22 and whisperer in 16:28, which is on the friends page. Proverbs 26:22 repeats 18:8 word for word. "Wounds" is laham, "properly, to burn in, i.e. (figuratively) to rankle," and it comes only in those two verses. "Ceaseth" is shathaq, "to subside." The printed KJV sets "there" and "there is" in italics in 26:20 and "are" in 18:8.

In the Psalms

I will keep my mouth with a bridle (Psalm 39:1)

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. (Psalm 39:1)

"Bridle" is machsom, which Strong's defines as "a muzzle." This is the only place it comes in the Hebrew Bible. "Take heed" and "keep" are both shamar, the verb behind both keepeths in Proverbs 21:23. The KJV prints a heading over this psalm, "To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David," and Hebrew Bibles number this verse 39:2.

Keep thy tongue from evil (Psalm 34:13 and 1 Peter 3:10)

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (Psalm 34:13)

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (1 Peter 3:10)

"Keep" in the psalm is natsar, "to guard," and Hebrew Bibles number the verse 34:14. 1 Peter 3:10 says it in nearly the same words. There "refrain" is pauo, which Strong's defines as "to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end."

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth (Psalm 141:3)

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3)

"A watch" is shomrah, which Strong's defines as "watchfulness" and builds from shamar. This is its only place in the Hebrew Bible. "Keep" is natsar again. The prayer page quotes the verse before it, Psalm 141:2.

There is not a word in my tongue (Psalm 139:4)

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:4)

"Word" is millah, which Strong's defines as "a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic." The printed KJV sets "there is" and "but" in italics.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue (Psalm 15:2 and 3)

2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. (Psalm 15:2-3)

The psalm's first verse is on the money page. "Backbiteth" is ragal, which Strong's defines as "to walk along" and also derives from regel, "a foot." Its KJV renderings include backbite, slander and spy, and in Genesis 42:9 it's Joseph's "Ye are spies." The printed KJV sets "He that" in italics at the start of verse 3.

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1)

My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. (Psalm 45:1)

"Inditing" is rachash, "to gush," found only here in the Hebrew Bible. "Ready" is mahir, which Strong's defines as "quick; hence, skilful." It's the "ready scribe" of Ezra 7:6 and the "diligent" of Proverbs 22:29. The KJV prints a heading over this psalm that ends "A Song of loves," and Hebrew Bibles number this verse 45:2. The printed KJV sets "is" in italics before "the pen."

From a deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2)

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. (Psalm 120:2)

"Deceitful" is remiyah, which Strong's defines as "remissness, treachery." Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen psalms, 120 to 134, whose KJV headings open "A Song of degrees." The printed KJV sets "and" in italics.

The tongue of the learned (Isaiah 50:4)

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. (Isaiah 50:4)

"Learned" is limmud both times. Strong's defines it as "instructed," and the KJV renders it "disciples" in Isaiah 8:16. Strong's gives "speak in season" as the KJV rendering of uth, which it defines as "to hasten, i.e. succor." This is the only place uth comes in the Hebrew Bible. The printed KJV sets "him that is" in italics.

Slow of speech, and of a slow tongue (Exodus 4:10 to 12)

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. (Exodus 4:10-12)

"Not eloquent" is word for word not a man of words. "Slow" is kabed both times, which Strong's defines as "heavy," so in the Hebrew Moses is heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue. The printed KJV sets "am" in italics twice in verse 10.

I will hold my tongue (Job 6:24)

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. (Job 6:24)

Job is speaking (6:1). "I will hold my tongue" is one Hebrew word, a form of charash, and no Hebrew word for tongue stands in the verse. Strong's gives charash the sense "to be silent" and lists "hold tongue" among its KJV renderings. It's one of four places charash stands behind tongue in the KJV.

The string of his tongue was loosed (Mark 7:32 to 35)

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. (Mark 7:32-35)

Jesus is named in 7:27. "Had an impediment in his speech" is one Greek word, mogilalos, which Strong's defines as "hardly talking, i.e. dumb (tongue-tied)." It comes only here in the New Testament. "String" is desmos, "a band, i.e. ligament (of the body)." Verse 34 gives Ephphatha's meaning itself, "that is, Be opened."

Not in word, neither in tongue (1 John 3:18)

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

"Word" is logos and "tongue" is glossa, the Greek word behind 50 of the New Testament's 60 tongues.

Let your speech be alway with grace (Colossians 4:6 and Ephesians 4:29)

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:6)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Neither verse says tongue. "Speech" in Colossians 4:6 and "communication" in Ephesians 4:29 are both logos, the "word" of 1 John 3:18. "Seasoned" is artuo, which Strong's defines as "to prepare, i.e. spice (with stimulating condiments)." It comes three times in the New Testament, here and in Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34. "Corrupt" is sapros, "rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally)," the word behind the "corrupt tree" of Matthew 7:17 and Luke 6:43. The printed KJV sets "be" in italics in Colossians 4:6.

Out of the abundance of the heart (Luke 6:45)

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)

"Abundance" is perisseuma, which Strong's defines as "a surplus, or superabundance." Matthew 12:34 has nearly the same words, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

The words behind tongue

The 165 tongues in the KJV stand on nine Hebrew and Greek words.

Word	Language	Strong's	Times behind tongue	Example
lashon	Hebrew	H3956	98	Proverbs 18:21
charash	Hebrew	H2790	4	Job 6:24
Aramith	Hebrew	H762	2	Ezra 4:7
hasah	Hebrew	H2013	1	Amos 6:10
glossa	Greek	G1100	50	James 3:5
dialektos	Greek	G1258	5	Acts 1:19
Hebraisti	Greek	G1447	3	John 5:2
heteroglossos	Greek	G2084	1	1 Corinthians 14:21
Hellenikos	Greek	G1673	1	Revelation 9:11

Lashon comes 117 times in the Hebrew Bible by the Open Scriptures count. The KJV words the other 19 another way, among them language, bay and wedge. Charash is the Hebrew word behind "hold my tongue" in Job 6:24, and hasah is behind "Hold thy tongue" in Amos 6:10. Ezra 4:7 has "the Syrian tongue" twice, and Revelation 9:11 has both "the Hebrew tongue" and "the Greek tongue." Strong's gives tongue as glossa's only KJV rendering.

Every place the KJV says tongue

Tongue or tongues comes in 160 verses of the King James Bible, 104 in the Old Testament and 56 in the New. Five verses have it twice, Ezra 4:7, 1 Corinthians 12:10 and 14:5, James 3:6 and Revelation 9:11, so the 160 verses hold 165. The KJV prints doubletongued as one word in 1 Timothy 3:8, and it isn't in the count.

Genesis 10:5, 10:20, 10:31
Exodus 4:10, 11:7
Deuteronomy 28:49
Joshua 10:21
Judges 7:5
2 Samuel 23:2
Ezra 4:7
Esther 7:4
Job 5:21, 6:24, 6:30, 13:19, 15:5, 20:12, 20:16, 27:4, 29:10, 33:2, 41:1
Psalms 5:9, 10:7, 12:3, 12:4, 15:3, 22:15, 31:20, 34:13, 35:28, 37:30, 39:1, 39:3, 45:1, 50:19, 51:14, 52:2, 52:4, 55:9, 57:4, 64:3, 64:8, 66:17, 68:23, 71:24, 73:9, 78:36, 109:2, 119:172, 120:2, 120:3, 126:2, 137:6, 139:4, 140:3
Proverbs 6:17, 6:24, 10:20, 10:31, 12:18, 12:19, 15:2, 15:4, 16:1, 17:4, 17:20, 18:21, 21:6, 21:23, 25:15, 25:23, 26:28, 28:23, 31:26
Song of Solomon 4:11
Isaiah 3:8, 11:15, 28:11, 30:27, 32:4, 33:19, 35:6, 41:17, 45:23, 50:4, 54:17, 57:4, 59:3, 66:18
Jeremiah 9:3, 9:5, 9:8, 18:18, 23:31
Lamentations 4:4
Ezekiel 3:26
Daniel 1:4
Hosea 7:16
Amos 6:10
Micah 6:12
Habakkuk 1:13
Zephaniah 3:13
Zechariah 14:12
Mark 7:33, 7:35, 16:17
Luke 1:64, 16:24
John 5:2
Acts 1:19, 2:3, 2:4, 2:8, 2:11, 2:26, 10:46, 19:6, 21:40, 22:2, 26:14
Romans 3:13, 14:11
1 Corinthians 12:10, 12:28, 12:30, 13:1, 13:8, 14:2, 14:4, 14:5, 14:6, 14:9, 14:13, 14:14, 14:18, 14:19, 14:21, 14:22, 14:23, 14:26, 14:27, 14:39
Philippians 2:11
James 1:26, 3:5, 3:6, 3:8
1 Peter 3:10
1 John 3:18
Revelation 5:9, 7:9, 9:11, 10:11, 11:9, 13:7, 14:6, 16:10, 16:16, 17:15

The tongue on the other pages

Twenty-one of the 160 verses in the list are already on the site's other pages, quoted there in full or in part or named. Proverbs 6:17, Psalm 12:3 and Psalm 31:20 are on the pride page. 1 Corinthians 13:1 and 13:8 are on the love page, and 13:1 is on the money page too. 1 Corinthians 14:13 and 14:14 are on the prayer page. 14:18 and Philippians 2:11 are on the thanksgiving page. Proverbs 31:26, Proverbs 10:31, Psalm 37:30 and Daniel 1:4 are on the wisdom page. Psalm 137:6 is on the joy page, and Acts 2:26 is on the hope page. Proverbs 25:23 and Isaiah 30:27 are on the anger page, which also quotes Proverbs 15:1 and James 1:19. Jeremiah 9:8, Job 29:10 and Joshua 10:21 are on the peace page, and Psalm 22:15 is on the strength page.

Worry, fear, grief, strength, love, forgiveness, hope, peace, anger, pride, temptation, wisdom, joy, thanksgiving, money, trust, Christmas, patience, comfort, sleep, friends and prayer

How this page was made

Every verse is quoted from the 1769 standard text of the King James Version and checked word for word against two more digital copies. The printed KJV sets supplied words in italics, which this page doesn't show. It also sets titles above many psalms, and none of those titles says tongue. Verse numbers follow the KJV. Hebrew Bibles number 22 of the Old Testament verses in the list differently, 18 of them in Psalms. Among the verses quoted here they number Psalm 34:13 as 34:14, Psalm 39:1 as 39:2 and Psalm 45:1 as 45:2.

Hebrew words were identified with the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. Greek words were identified with STEPBible's tagged Greek New Testament. The counts of the words behind tongue come from the Strong's numbers in the CrossWire Bible Society's KJV, each checked against the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible or STEPBible's Greek. Greek counts follow the Textus Receptus as STEPBible gives it. Every Greek word the notes cite in a verse quoted in full stands in all eight Greek editions STEPBible compares. STEPBible is a Tyndale House Cambridge project. STEPBible's data and the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible are both shared under CC BY 4.0. The definitions come from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). If you find a mistake, tell us through the support page.

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