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The Bible never uses the word cuss, but it speaks plainly about the language that word describes. Paul tells believers to let no corrupt speech come out of their mouths, only what builds others up (Ephesians 4:29), and to put away anger, wrath, slander and shameful talk (Colossians 3:8). Forms of swear appear 71 times in 61 verses of the World English Bible, and most are about oaths and taking God's name lightly: Exodus 20:7 forbids misusing the name of Yahweh, and Jesus told his hearers to let their yes be yes and their no be no (Matthew 5:37). The Bible gives no list of banned words. It asks about what the words do, to God and to the people who hear them.
Counts from this page's curated collection (11 books of Scripture).
"Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear."
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
"nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks."
"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."
"but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth."
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."
"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."
"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
"I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”"
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
"That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”"
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
"But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man."
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."
"but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one."
"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
"But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear— not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”; so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy."
"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
"With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so."
"Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
"For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also."
"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."
"If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless."
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain."
“You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
“‘You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
"And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD."
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer."
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
"Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips."
"Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
"Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies."
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."
"Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles."
"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."
"In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely."
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise."
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit."
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
"There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals."
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."
"Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you."
"Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee."
"For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit."
"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:"
"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things."
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
"Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse."
"Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible and the King James Version (both public domain), checked word for word against the full text. Updated October 3, 2026.
The Bible does not list particular words, but it condemns corrupt, filthy and abusive speech (Ephesians 4:29, 5:4, Colossians 3:8) and warns that people will give account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36). Many Christians treat profanity as falling under those verses, particularly when it is aimed at people or uses God's name lightly. Others separate rude words from the sins the verses name. The test the verses give is whether the words build up or tear down.
The third commandment says not to take the name of Yahweh your God in vain (Exodus 20:7). The Hebrew points to using his name for empty or false purposes: swearing false oaths, using his name as a curse or a casual exclamation, or speaking it without meaning. Jesus extended the concern to oaths in general (Matthew 5:33-37).
Jesus said not to swear at all, neither by heaven nor by earth, and to let your word be yes or no (Matthew 5:34-37), and James repeats it (James 5:12). The context is oath-taking: making a promise sound more binding by invoking something sacred. The same Bible records God himself swearing, and Paul calling God to witness, so Christians read the teaching as a call to be a person whose plain word is enough.
Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue, and James 3:9-10 asks how blessing and cursing can come from the same mouth. Proverbs 15:1 says a gentle answer turns away wrath. The consistent teaching is that speech has weight, and that believers are to use it to bless.
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