Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5546 speech  »  5547 speech, power and significance of

A person's speech has an enormous influence for good or ill and is a sure guide to character.

The impact of speech

It has the power of life and death

Proverbs 18:21; James 3:1-12 See also Proverbs 15:2,4

It can bring ruin or joy to the speaker

Proverbs 12:13-14 See also Psalm 140:9; Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 14:3; Proverbs 18:6-7,20; Proverbs 21:23; Ecclesiastes 10:12-14

It can destroy others

Proverbs 11:9 See also Job 19:2; Psalm 55:20-21; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 64:3-4; Psalm 140:3; Proverbs 11:11; Proverbs 12:6,18; Proverbs 16:27

It can bring life to others

Proverbs 10:11 See also Proverbs 10:20-21,31-32; Proverbs 16:21,23-24; Proverbs 25:12; Isaiah 50:4; Ephesians 4:29

The timing of speech

There is an appropriate time for speaking

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 See also Proverbs 15:23,28; Proverbs 25:11-12

There is an appropriate time for silence

Proverbs 11:12-13 See also 1 Samuel 10:27; Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 17:27-28; Proverbs 21:23; Proverbs 26:4; Ecclesiastes 5:2-3; Amos 5:13; Habakkuk 2:20; Zephaniah 1:7; James 1:19

Spoken witness produces faith

Romans 10:17 See also Isaiah 50:4; Acts 2:40-41; Acts 28:23-24; 1 Peter 3:15

Jesus Christ was silent before his accusers

1 Peter 2:22-23 See also Matthew 26:63 pp Mark 14:61; Matthew 27:14 pp Mark 15:5; Luke 23:9; John 19:8-9

Speech is an expression of a person's character

Matthew 12:34-37 See also Psalm 5:9; Psalm 15:1-5; Matthew 15:10-20 pp Mark 7:14-23; Luke 6:45; James 1:26; Revelation 14:5

See also

2315  Christ as Lamb
3281  Holy Spirit, inspiration
5164  lips
5167  mouth
5168  muteness
5193  tongue
5196  voice
5356  irony
5374  languages
5842  eloquence
5950  silence
7754  preaching