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 Jas 3:5 See also Jdg 7:5; Job 41:1; Mk 7:33; Lk 16:24; Rev 16:10

Used for eating Nu 22:4; Job 12:11; Job 34:3; Ps 68:23

Used for drinking Jdg 7:5

Used for licking 1Ki 21:19; 1Ki 22:38; Lk 16:21

Parched with thirst Ps 22:15; Ps 137:6; Isa 41:17; La 4:4

The tongue as an organ of speech

It is God-given Ex 4:10-11 See also Eze 3:26; Lk 1:20-22,62-64

God is able to loose the tongue of the mute Mk 7:33-35 See also Isa 32:4; Isa 35:6; Mt 15:30-31; Lk 1:64

Reasons for holding one’s tongue

To restrain sin Pr 10:19 See also Pr 11:12; Pr 17:27-28; Pr 21:23; Jas 1:26; 1Pe 3:10

As a mark of respect and awe Job 29:9-10; Hab 2:20

The tongue’s potential for good

Right use of the tongue requires an act of the will Job 27:4 See also Ps 39:1; Ps 141:3

The tongue can praise God Ps 35:28 See also Ps 16:9; Ps 45:1; Ps 51:14; Ps 66:17; Ps 71:24; Ps 119:172; Ps 126:2; Ac 2:26; Jas 3:9

The tongue can speak God-given words 2Sa 23:2 See also Pr 16:1; Isa 50:4; Mic 3:8; Lk 21:14-15

Every tongue will acknowledge God Isa 45:23 See also Ro 14:11; Php 2:10-11

The tongue can speak wisdom Ps 37:30 See also Pr 10:19-20; Pr 12:18; Pr 15:23; Pr 31:26

The tongue can bring healing Pr 15:4 See also Pr 12:18

The tongue’s potential for evil

The tongue’s power needs to be controlled Pr 18:21; Jas 3:3-10 See also Job 27:4; Ps 34:13; Pr 11:12; Jas 1:26

The tongue can speak deceitfully Ps 5:9 See also Ps 50:19; Ps 52:4; Ps 120:2-3; Pr 15:4; Pr 17:20; Jer 9:8; Mic 6:12; Ro 3:13

The tongue can speak lies Jer 9:3 See also Pr 6:17; Pr 21:6; Pr 26:28

Other evil uses of the tongue Ps 10:7 See also Ps 12:3-4; Ps 52:2; Pr 6:24; Isa 57:4; Isa 59:3; Jer 18:18

The punishment for a perverse tongue Pr 10:31

Tongue in the sense of language

As a foreign language Ac 2:8-11 See also Est 1:22; Ps 114:1; Isa 28:11; Isa 33:19; Isa 66:18; 1Co 14:10

As a language given by the Holy Spirit Ac 2:4 See also Mk 16:17; Ac 10:46; Ac 19:6; 1Co 12:10,28,30; 1Co 13:1,8; 1Co 14:2-23

Metaphors used to describe the tongue

The tongue as a dangerous weapon Ps 57:4; Ps 64:3; Jer 9:3,8

Other metaphors Ps 140:3; Pr 10:20; Isa 5:24; Ac 2:3; Jas 3:6

See also