Words hold tremendous power: they can build up or tear down, bring healing or spread hurt. Gossip—idle talk or slander about others—destroys trust, wounds relationships, and dishonors God’s calling to love our neighbor. Scripture repeatedly warns us against gossip and urges us to use our speech for encouragement, truth, and grace.

Whether you’re tempted to share a juicy rumor or seeking to curb idle chatter, these Bible verses on gossiping will convict your heart and guide your tongue. Each passage is paired with a Meaning: to help you apply its truth, replacing harmful talk with words that reflect Christ’s love and integrity.

1. Proverbs 11:13
   “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a matter covered.”
   Meaning: A gossip betrays confidence; a person of integrity guards private matters.

2. Proverbs 16:28
   “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”
   Meaning: Whispered rumors breed division—truth and honesty preserve unity.

3. Proverbs 20:19
   “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.”
   Meaning: Avoid those who talk too much—they erode relationships with idle talk.

4. Proverbs 18:8
   “The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts.”
   Meaning: Gossip may seem tasty, but it poisons our hearts and minds.

5. Proverbs 26:20
   “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.”
   Meaning: Remove gossip’s fuel and conflict will fade—stop spreading rumors.

6. Leviticus 19:16
   “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people.”
   Meaning: God commands His people to refrain from malicious talk against one another.

7. Psalm 34:13
   “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”
   Meaning: Guard both your speech and your intention—speak only what is true and kind.

8. Psalm 101:5
   “Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy; whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.”
   Meaning: God opposes secret slanderers and honors humble, gracious hearts.

9. Psalm 52:1–2
   “Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?… You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right.”
   Meaning: Boasting about gossip reveals a heart that delights in falsehood.

10. Matthew 12:36–37
    “…for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
    Meaning: Every careless word counts—choose speech that pleases God, not condemns you.

11. Ephesians 4:29
    “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up…”
    Meaning: Replace gossip with words that encourage, uplift, and bring grace.

12. Ephesians 4:31
    “Let all bitterness and wrath… and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
    Meaning: Actively rid your speech of any desire to hurt others through gossip.

13. Colossians 3:8
    “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk out of your mouth.”
    Meaning: Slander and malicious speech have no place in a life transformed by Christ.

14. James 1:26
    “If anyone thinks he is religious… but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart, and his religion is worthless.”
    Meaning: True faith is shown by controlling your tongue, not merely by outward piety.

15. James 3:5–6
    “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things… it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
    Meaning: Though small, the tongue can cause tremendous harm—tame it with God’s help.

16. James 4:11
    “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.”
    Meaning: Slandering fellow believers contradicts our identity as siblings in Christ.

17. James 5:9
    “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged…”
    Meaning: Critical talk undermines unity and invites God’s righteous judgment.

18. 1 Peter 2:1
    “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”
    Meaning: Slander is part of the old nature—discard it as you grow in Christ.

19. 1 Peter 4:15
    “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.”
    Meaning: Avoid “meddling” in others’ lives through gossip—respect boundaries.

20. 1 Timothy 5:13
    “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers but also gossips and busybodies.”
    Meaning: Idle time can lead to harmful gossip—use your moments wisely.

21. 2 Corinthians 12:20
    “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish… quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.”
    Meaning: Slander and gossip disrupt Christian community—guard your church from these.

22. Romans 1:29
    “They have become filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of… maliciousness. They are gossips.”
    Meaning: Unchecked sin leads to slander—seek holiness to suppress gossiping.

23. Psalm 101:5
    (Repeated for emphasis)
    Meaning: Slanderers stand opposed by God—choose humility over gossip.

24. Proverbs 10:18
    “The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.”
    Meaning: Gossip exposes hidden hatred; fools spread it without restraint.

25. Proverbs 17:9
    “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”
    Meaning: Forgive and move on; repeating wrongs fractures friendships.

26. Proverbs 26:18–19
    “Like a madman who throws firebrands… so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’”
    Meaning: Dismissing harmful words as “jokes” still inflicts real damage.

27. Matthew 15:18–20
    “…out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”
    Meaning: Slander springs from a corrupt heart—true change begins within.

28. Matthew 12:34
    “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
    Meaning: Guard your heart; only then can your speech remain pure.

29. Colossians 4:6
    “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…”
    Meaning: Even when addressing truth, infuse your words with kindness and wisdom.

30. Proverbs 21:23
    “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
    Meaning: Self-control in speech protects you from the fallout of gossip.

Conclusion
Gossip corrodes relationships and dishonors God, but Scripture offers a clear antidote: speak only what builds up, guard your tongue, and root out slander from your heart. Let these Bible verses on gossiping convict any careless chatter and guide you toward words of encouragement, truth, and grace.

Practice replacing every unkind rumor with a prayer for the person involved. Share these verses with friends and small groups, and hold one another accountable. As you cultivate speech that reflects Christ, you’ll witness the transforming power of words used for life, unity, and love.