What are some Bible verses about slander?

Slander, according to the Bible, is false and malicious speech intended to harm someone’s reputation. It is condemned as a sin of the tongue that causes discord, deception, and destruction (Proverbs 6:16-19). Scripture warns against slander, calling believers to speak truth, avoid gossip, and edify others (Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 10:18).

Here are over 27 Bible verses about slander from the New King James Version (NKJV):

God Condemns Slander

1. Leviticus 19:16 – “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.”
2. Proverbs 6:16-19 – “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”
3. Psalm 101:5 – “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.”
4. Proverbs 10:18 – “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
5. Proverbs 19:5 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.”

Slander is a Sin Against Others

6. Exodus 23:1 – “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”
7. Psalm 15:1-3 – “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend.”
8. Proverbs 11:9 – “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.”
9. Proverbs 16:28 – “A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
10. Proverbs 26:20 – “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”
11. Proverbs 26:22 – “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.”
12. Ecclesiastes 10:20 – “Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.”

Slander is a Mark of the Wicked

13. Psalm 50:19-21 – “You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.”
14. Romans 1:28-30 – “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.”
15. 1 Timothy 5:13 – “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”
16. 2 Timothy 3:1-3 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.”

Slander and Gossip Bring Destruction

17. Psalm 140:11 – “Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”
18. Proverbs 17:4 – “An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.”
19. Proverbs 21:23 – “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.”
20. James 3:5-6 – “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”
21. James 3:8-10 – “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

God Calls Believers to Speak Truth and Avoid Slander

22. Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
23. Ephesians 4:31 – “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
24. Colossians 3:8 – “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”
25. Titus 3:1-2 – “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”
26. 1 Peter 2:1 – “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.”
27. 1 Peter 3:10 – “For ‘He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.'”

Conclusion

Slander is a serious sin that God condemns because it harms others, spreads falsehoods, and destroys relationships. The Bible repeatedly warns against speaking evil of others and calls believers to speak truth, love, and grace.

Instead of engaging in slander, Christians should:

• Guard their words (Proverbs 21:23)
• Speak truth and love (Ephesians 4:15)
• Refrain from gossip (Proverbs 26:20)
• Use their words to build others up (Ephesians 4:29)

By following these principles, believers reflect Christ’s character and honor God in their speech.