Slander can cause deep hurt and damage, and the Bible takes a firm stance against it. Whether it’s through gossip or false accusations, slander goes against the call to love our neighbor. Let’s explore verses that remind us to guard our words and speak truthfully, in love, at all times.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Empathy For Others
Bible Verses About Slander
Exodus 20:16 – God commands us not to bear false witness against our neighbor
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” – Exodus 20:16
Proverbs 11:13 – Those who gossip cannot be trusted
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” – Proverbs 11:13
Proverbs 16:28 – Slander causes strife and destroys relationships
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” – Proverbs 16:28
Matthew 15:19 – Slander comes from a corrupt heart
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” – Matthew 15:19
Romans 1:30 – Those who slander are considered sinful and wicked
“They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents.” – Romans 1:30
1 Timothy 3:11 – Slander should not be a characteristic of those who serve in the church
“In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.” – 1 Timothy 3:11
James 4:11 – Speak truthfully and do not slander others
“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.” – James 4:11
1 Peter 2:1 – Rid yourself of all slander
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” – 1 Peter 2:1
Titus 3:2 – Believers should not slander anyone but be gentle and considerate
“to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” – Titus 3:2
1 Corinthians 4:13 – Even when we are slandered, we should respond with kindness
“when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.” – 1 Corinthians 4:13
Proverbs 10:18 – Hiding hatred by spreading lies is condemned by God
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.” – Proverbs 10:18
Psalm 101:5 – Slander is not tolerated in the presence of God
“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.” – Psalm 101:5
Leviticus 19:16 – Do not spread slanderous rumors
“Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:16
1 Timothy 5:13 – Slander leads to idle and sinful lives
“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.” – 1 Timothy 5:13
Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from speaking evil and slander
“keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.” – Psalm 34:13
Proverbs 26:20 – Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip and slander, conflict ceases
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” – Proverbs 26:20
2 Corinthians 12:20 – Slander destroys unity in the church
“For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.” – 2 Corinthians 12:20
Ephesians 4:31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, slander, and malice
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” – Ephesians 4:31
1 Peter 3:16 – Live a good life so no one can accuse you of evil or slander
“keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” – 1 Peter 3:16
Titus 2:3 – Older women should not slander others
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” – Titus 2:3
Colossians 3:8 – Rid yourself of slander and filthy language
“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
Proverbs 17:9 – Whoever spreads slander is a fool
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” – Proverbs 17:9
1 Peter 2:12 – Live such good lives that slanderers have nothing to say against you
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” – 1 Peter 2:12
Proverbs 20:19 – Do not associate with those who gossip and slander
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” – Proverbs 20:19
Psalm 15:3 – The Lord hates those who slander and malign others
“The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;” – Psalm 15:3
1 Timothy 6:4 – Slander shows a lack of understanding and a desire for quarrels
“they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions.” – 1 Timothy 6:4
Psalm 140:11 – May slanderers be caught in their own traps
“May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.” – Psalm 140:11
Psalm 119:23 – Slanderers are prideful and disregard God’s law
“Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.” – Psalm 119:23
1 Corinthians 5:11 – A believer should not associate with those who slander and gossip
“But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.” – 1 Corinthians 5:11
Proverbs 6:19 – God hates those who bear false witness and spread slander
“a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” – Proverbs 6:19
Proverbs 25:18 – Slander is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow
“Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.” – Proverbs 25:18
Psalms 50:20 – Speaking evil against others can lead to reproach
“You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.” – Psalms 50:20
James 1:26 – True religion involves bridling the tongue and not slandering others
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” – James 1:26
Proverbs 30:10 – Do not slander a servant to their master
“Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.” – Proverbs 30:10
Proverbs 14:21 – Those who slander the poor insult their Maker
“Whoever despises their neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” – Proverbs 14:21
Proverbs 19:5 – A false witness will not go unpunished
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.” – Proverbs 19:5
Ezekiel 22:9 – Slanderous princes and officials abuse their power
“In you are slanderous men bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts.” – Ezekiel 22:9
2 Samuel 19:27 – Don’t believe slanderous accusations without verifying the facts
“He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish.” – 2 Samuel 19:27
2 Samuel 16:3 – Slander can be a tactic used by adversaries
“The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”” – 2 Samuel 16:3