What the Bible Says About Crooked Speech: Lessons from Proverbs

The expression “crooked speech” refers to dishonest speech; it could also refer to a good suggestion or a rebuke without proper content, context, or purpose.

“A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech” (Prov 6:12). Rest of the passage describes his devious ways: He “winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing” (Prov 6:13—15).

Crooked speech is not just a manner of speaking; it encompasses deception, evil, discord, and all that causes hurt and disharmony in the community. It is a destructive force that can shatter a person beyond repair; as the Bible warns, “he will be broken beyond healing.”

Sometimes, “crooked speech” happens inadvertently in casual remarks, jesting and careless talk when we leak out information about others that we should have kept to ourselves. Put in another way, it is the speech that we later regret.

The Lord opposes speech that advertently or inadvertently harms others. His speech serves as the ultimate model for Christian conduct. The psalmist beautifully reflects on the Lord’s speech: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psa 119:103).

Being mindful of our speech is a crucial aspect of personal holiness. This understanding leads the psalmist to pray, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psa 141:3). This prayer is a powerful tool in our journey to avoid harmful speech.

Let us pray for God’s guidance to refrain from uttering anything harmful and to focus instead on building ourselves and others through our words.