5193 tongue
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5125 Parts of the body and clothing  »  5193 tongue

The organ of speech, which Scripture stresses can be the source of both praise and blame. The tongue is to be kept under control, on account of its capacity for evil words.

The tongue as a bodily organ

As part of the body

James 3:5 See also Judges 7:5; Job 41:1; Mark 7:33; Luke 16:24; Revelation 16:10

Used for eating

Numbers 22:4; Job 12:11; Job 34:3; Psalm 68:23

Used for drinking

Judges 7:5

Used for licking

1 Kings 21:19; Kings 22:38; Luke 16:21

Parched with thirst

Psalm 22:15; Psalm 137:6; Isaiah 41:17; Lamentations 4:4

The tongue as an organ of speech

It is God-given

Exodus 4:10-11 See also Ezekiel 3:26; Luke 1:20-22,62-64

God is able to loose the tongue of the mute

Mark 7:33-35 See also Isaiah 32:4; Isaiah 35:6; Matthew 15:30-31; Luke 1:64

Reasons for holding one's tongue

To restrain sin

Proverbs 10:19 See also Proverbs 11:12; Proverbs 17:27-28; Proverbs 21:23; James 1:26; 1 Peter 3:10

As a mark of respect and awe

Job 29:9-10; Habakkuk 2:20

The tongue's potential for good

Right use of the tongue requires an act of the will

Job 27:4 See also Psalm 39:1; Psalm 141:3

The tongue can praise God

Psalm 35:28 See also Psalm 16:9; Psalm 45:1; Psalm 51:14; Psalm 66:17; Psalm 71:24; Psalm 119:172; Psalm 126:2; Acts 2:26; James 3:9

The tongue can speak God-given words

2 Samuel 23:2 See also Proverbs 16:1; Isaiah 50:4; Micah 3:8; Luke 21:14-15

Every tongue will acknowledge God

Isaiah 45:23 See also Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11

The tongue can speak wisdom

Psalm 37:30 See also Proverbs 10:19-20; Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 15:23; Proverbs 31:26

The tongue can bring healing

Proverbs 15:4 See also Proverbs 12:18

The tongue's potential for evil

The tongue's power needs to be controlled

Proverbs 18:21; James 3:3-10 See also Job 27:4; Psalm 34:13; Proverbs 11:12; James 1:26

The tongue can speak deceitfully

Psalm 5:9 See also Psalm 50:19; Psalm 52:4; Psalm 120:2-3; Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 17:20; Jeremiah 9:8; Micah 6:12; Romans 3:13

The tongue can speak lies

Jeremiah 9:3 See also Proverbs 6:17; Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 26:28

Other evil uses of the tongue

Psalm 10:7 See also Psalm 12:3-4; Psalm 52:2; Proverbs 6:24; Isaiah 57:4; Isaiah 59:3; Jeremiah 18:18

The punishment for a perverse tongue

Proverbs 10:31

Tongue in the sense of language

As a foreign language

Acts 2:8-11 See also Esther 1:22; Psalm 114:1; Isaiah 28:11; Isaiah 33:19; Isaiah 66:18; 1 Corinthians 14:10

As a language given by the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4 See also Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10,28,30; Corinthians 13:1,8; Corinthians 14:2-23

Metaphors used to describe the tongue

The tongue as a dangerous weapon

Psalm 57:4; Psalm 64:3; Jeremiah 9:3,8

Other metaphors

Psalm 140:3; Proverbs 10:20; Isaiah 5:24; Acts 2:3; James 3:6

See also

1690  word of God
5164  lips
5167  mouth
5168  muteness
5187  taste
5196  voice
5546  speech
5950  silence
7972  tongues, gift of



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