How many times is tongue mentioned in the Bible?
The word tongue appears 129 times in the King James Version, in 126 verses. Counting every form (tongue, tongues), it appears 165 times in 160 verses across 34 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses tongue 101 times (109 with every form).
The KJV uses tongue both for the body part and for a language, as in Acts 2:4, "began to speak with other tongues". The World English Bible often says language or languages for the second kind (Acts 2:4: "other languages"), so its count is lower.
Tongue in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of tongue counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| tongue | 129 | 101 |
| tongues | 36 | 8 |
| Total | 165 | 109 |
Which books mention tongue most
Tongue appears in 34 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Psalms has the most (34), then 1 Corinthians (22) and Proverbs (19).
Also in: Deuteronomy (1), Joshua (1), Judges (1), 2 Samuel (1), Esther (1), Song of Solomon (1), Lamentations (1), Ezekiel (1), Daniel (1), Hosea (1), Amos (1), Micah (1), Habakkuk (1), Zephaniah (1), Zechariah (1), John (1), Philippians (1), 1 Peter (1), 1 John (1).
First and last mention of tongue
By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
The verse that uses it most is Ezra 4:7, 2 times (tied with 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 14:5, James 3:6, Revelation 9:11):
And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
Where the two translations differ
55 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 3 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Genesis 10:5: counted in the KJV only
By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
Genesis 10:20: counted in the KJV only
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
Psalm 16:9: counted in the World English Bible only
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.
Ecclesiastes 10:11: counted in the World English Bible only
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
Verses with tongue on our topic pages
27 verses that use tongue in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;
On: Gossip, What Does the Bible Say About Lying? 28 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About Abortion? 25 Verses, Bullying
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
On: Fear, Gossip, What Does the Bible Say About Cussing and Swearing? 26 Verses, Bullying
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
On: Gossip, Self Control, What Does the Bible Say About Cussing and Swearing? 26 Verses
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.
He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’
On: What Does the Bible Say About Ghosts? 25 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About Reincarnation? 26 Verses, Purgatory
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.
On: Gossip, Honesty, What Does the Bible Say About Cussing and Swearing? 26 Verses
For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
On: Gossip, Honesty, What Does the Bible Say About Cussing and Swearing? 26 Verses
He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
On: Tattoos, What Does the Bible Say About Cussing and Swearing? 26 Verses
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
On: Gossip, What Does the Bible Say About Cussing and Swearing? 26 Verses
Common questions
How many times is tongue in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 105 of the 165 uses are in the Old Testament and 60 in the New Testament. Tongue appears in 34 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Psalms has the most (34), then 1 Corinthians (22) and Proverbs (19).
Where is tongue first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 10:5: "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." The last is Revelation 17:15.
More word counts: iniquity, meek, beast, flower, feast, word, husband, morning, or all 680 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-26.