The concept of "our tongue" in the Bible is a significant theme that encompasses the power of speech, the moral and ethical implications of our words, and the spiritual discipline required to control our speech. The tongue is often used metaphorically to represent human speech and communication, and it is addressed in various contexts throughout Scripture.

Power of the Tongue

The Bible frequently highlights the power of the tongue, both for good and for evil. Proverbs 18:21 states, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." This verse underscores the profound impact that our words can have, capable of bringing life, encouragement, and healing, or causing harm, destruction, and death.

James 3:5-6 further elaborates on the power of the tongue: "In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." Here, James warns of the destructive potential of the tongue, likening it to a fire that can cause widespread damage.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The Bible calls believers to use their tongues in ways that reflect their faith and commitment to God. Ephesians 4:29 instructs, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen." This verse emphasizes the importance of edifying speech that benefits others and aligns with Christian values.

The ethical use of the tongue is also addressed in Colossians 4:6 : "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This passage encourages believers to speak with grace and wisdom, ensuring that their words are both truthful and loving.

Spiritual Discipline and Control

Controlling the tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity and discipline. James 1:26 states, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless." This verse highlights the necessity of self-control in speech as an integral part of genuine faith.

Psalm 141:3 offers a prayer for divine assistance in controlling one's speech: "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips." This prayer reflects the understanding that human effort alone is insufficient to tame the tongue, and divine help is essential.

The Tongue and the Heart

The Bible often links the condition of the heart with the words that proceed from the mouth. Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:34 , "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." This connection indicates that the tongue reveals the true nature of a person's heart, and thus, transformation of speech begins with the transformation of the heart.

In summary, the biblical perspective on "our tongue" is multifaceted, emphasizing its power, the moral responsibility of speech, the need for spiritual discipline, and the heart's influence on our words. The Scriptures call believers to use their tongues in ways that honor God and reflect His love and truth to the world.James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
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Proverbs 15:4
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
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James 3:5-10
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!
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Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
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Psalm CXXVI.
... 3. "Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with exultation" (ver.2).
That mouth, brethren, which we have in our body, how is it "filled with joy"? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxvi.htm

How the Will Variously Governs the Powers of the Soul.
... We open and shut our mouth, move our tongue, our hands, feet, eyes, and all the
members to which the power of this movement refers without resistance ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how the will.htm

Psalm XII.
... 5. "Who have said, We will magnify our tongue, our lips are our own, who is Lord
over us?" (ver.4). Proud hypocrites are meant, putting confidence in their ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xii.htm

Of the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Thabor
... and John followed Him on to mount Thabor. Thabor means in our tongue an increase
of light. So soon as we are like Peter in knowledge ...
/.../the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xii of the transfiguration.htm

The Tongue.
... And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members,
that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/robertson/sermons preached at brighton/i the tongue.htm

Psalm CXXXVII.
... That is our tongue, the song of Jerusalem. The song of the love of this world is
a strange tongue, a barbarous tongue, which we have learnt in our captivity. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxvii.htm

He.
... [5168] ...But the Apostle saith, "Avarice is a root of all evils." [5169] But in
the Greek, whence these words have been rendered into our tongue, the word ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/he.htm

Letter Lxi. To vigilantius.
... Eusebius of Vercell??, who witnessed a like confession, must also be held in fault;
for he has translated into our tongue the Commentaries upon all the Psalms ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxi to vigilantius.htm

On the Third Precept of the Decalogue
... things. IV. "To assume" or "to take the name of God," properly, to take that
word into our mouth and pronounce it with our tongue. If ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxvi on the third.htm

That we have not Naturally the Power to Love God Above all Things.
... But above all I wonder at the poor good man Epictetus, whose words and sentences
are so sweet in our tongue, in the translation which the learned and agreeable ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvii that we have.htm

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