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
