Cursing is often associated with negative speech or invoking harm upon someone. The Bible provides guidance on the use of words, highlighting the importance of controlling one’s tongue and the potential harm or blessings it can bring. Below are Bible verses that address the topic of cursing and provide insights into why we should be mindful of our words.
Bible Verses About Cursing
1. Exodus 20:7 – The Third Commandment
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” – Exodus 20:7
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 5:11 – “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Leviticus 19:12 – “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.”
Matthew 5:34-35 – “But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool.”
2. Leviticus 19:14 – Respect for the Disabled
“Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 19:14
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 27:18 – “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road. Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’”
Proverbs 31:8-9 – “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
Isaiah 35:5-6 – “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.”
3. Proverbs 18:21 – Power of the Tongue
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21
Cross-References
Proverbs 12:18 – “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
4. Romans 12:14 – Blessing Instead of Cursing
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” – Romans 12:14
Cross-References
1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing.”
5. Colossians 3:8 – Inconsistency of the Tongue
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” – Colossians 3:8
Cross-References
James 3:9-10 – “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
6. Matthew 5:22 – Judgement on Angry Words
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” – Matthew 5:22
Cross-References
Ephesians 4:31 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
1 Peter 2:1 – “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
7. Psalm 109:28 – God’s Justice on Curses
“While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.” – Psalm 109:28
Cross-References
Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Deuteronomy 23:5 – “However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.”
Psalm 37:22 – “Those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.”
8. Proverbs 25:23 – The North Wind and Sly Tongue
“Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.” – Proverbs 25:23
Cross-References
Psalm 141:3 – “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
9. 1 Corinthians 4:12 – Return Blessing for Cursing
“We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 4:12
Cross-References
1 Peter 2:23 – “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.”
10. James 3:10 – Rejecting Filthy Language
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” – James 3:10
Cross-References
Matthew 15:11 – “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
11. Romans 12:17 – Repaying Evil with Blessing
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.” – Romans 12:17
Cross-References
Proverbs 20:22 – “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.”
12. Numbers 23:8 – God’s Protection Against Curses
“How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?” – Numbers 23:8
Cross-References
2 Samuel 16:12 – “It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”
Deuteronomy 28:7 – “The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you.”
Job 1:10 – “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?”
13. Ephesians 4:29 – Edifying Words
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29
Cross-References
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
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14. Matthew 12:36-37 – Accountability for Words
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37
Cross-References
James 3:2 – “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”
15. Psalm 34:13 – Keeping the Tongue from Evil
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.” – Psalm 34:13
Cross-References
1 Peter 3:10 – “For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.’”
Proverbs 12:19 – “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
16. Proverbs 21:23 – Guarding the Mouth
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” – Proverbs 21:23
Cross-References
Proverbs 13:3 – “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”
James 3:6 – “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.”
17. Ecclesiastes 10:20 – Guarding Thoughts and Words
“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.” – Ecclesiastes 10:20
Cross-References
Proverbs 23:7 – “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”
Luke 12:3 – “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
James 4:11 – “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.”
18. Luke 6:45 – The Heart and Its Words
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Luke 6:45
Cross-References
Matthew 12:34 – “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 10:11 – “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
19. James 3:5-6 – The Dangerous Tongue
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” – James 3:5-6
Cross-References
Proverbs 16:27 – “A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.”
Matthew 15:18 – “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
Psalm 52:2 – “Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.”
20. Ephesians 5:4 – Prohibition of Certain Speech
“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” – Ephesians 5:4
Cross-References
1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Titus 2:8 – “In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.”
21. Psalm 10:7 – The Wicked and Cursing
“His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.” – Psalm 10:7
Cross-References
Psalm 12:2 – “Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.”
Psalm 36:3 – “The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.”
Romans 3:14 – “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
22. Psalm 109:17-18 – Cursing and its Consequences
“He loved to pronounce a curse—may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing—may it be far from him. He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.” – Psalm 109:17-18
Cross-References
Proverbs 26:2 – “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.”
Genesis 27:12 – “What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.”
Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
23. James 1:26 – True Religion and the Tongue
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” – James 1:26
Cross-References
Proverbs 17:27 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
24. Galatians 3:13 – Christ Redeems from the Curse
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” – Galatians 3:13
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 21:23 – “You must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Colossians 2:14 – “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
25. Proverbs 11:9 – Hypocrisy and Destructive Speech
“With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” – Proverbs 11:9
Cross-References
Proverbs 10:18 – “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
Job 15:5 – “Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty.”
Titus 3:2 – “To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
26. Psalm 59:12 – Punishing Sinful Speech
“For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter.” – Psalm 59:12
Cross-References
Psalm 140:3 – “They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.”
Jeremiah 9:8 – “Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully.”
27. Luke 6:28 – Blessing Those Who Curse
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” – Luke 6:28
Cross-References
Matthew 5:44 – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
28. Jeremiah 1:10 – Uprooting and Building with Words
“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” – Jeremiah 1:10
Cross-References
Ecclesiastes 3:3 – “A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.”
2 Corinthians 10:8 – “So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.”
Isaiah 58:12 – “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations.”
29. Proverbs 29:20 – Reckless Speech
“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” – Proverbs 29:20
Cross-References
Ecclesiastes 5:2 – “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.”
James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Proverbs 10:19 – “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”
30. Exodus 22:28 – Respect for Authority
“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.” – Exodus 22:28
Cross-References
Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”
Titus 3:1 – “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.”
1 Peter 2:17 – “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”
31. Jude 1:9 – Reverent Speech
“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” – Jude 1:9
Cross-References
Zechariah 3:2 – “The LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you!'”
2 Peter 2:11 – “Yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.”
Zephaniah 3:2 – “She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD, she does not draw near to her God.”
32. Isaiah 8:21 – The Frustration Leading to Cursing
“Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God.” – Isaiah 8:21
Cross-References
Isaiah 9:19 – “By the wrath of the LORD Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another.”
Job 2:9 – “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!'”
Micah 3:5 – “This is what the LORD says: As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim peace if they have something to eat.”
Also check out this article on: Bible verses about Arguments (With Cross-References)
Final Thoughts
The Bible emphasizes the power and significance of our words, urging believers to use them wisely and positively. While cursing often reflects anger, frustration, or spiritual rebellion, Scripture calls us to a higher standard of speech, advocating for blessing instead of cursing and urging believers to refrain from harmful language. The tongue, though small, wields great power, capable of both destruction and life. It’s a call to heed the transformative power of Christ in our communication, allowing His spirit to guide our tongues to edify and uplift.
Through these passages, we are reminded that Jesus has redeemed us from the curses of sin, giving us the ability to speak life and blessing into the world around us. As followers of Christ, we should strive to reflect His character through our speech, extending grace, mercy, and kindness in our interactions with others. Therefore, let our words be instruments of God’s love, truth, and healing, demonstrating the radical nature of Christ’s transformative love in all aspects of life.