The phrase “bridle your tongue” appears several times in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. It refers to carefully choosing your words and controlling what you say in order to avoid sinning through your speech. The tongue is compared to a powerful horse that needs to be controlled with a bridle to keep it from running wild. Learning to bridle one’s tongue is an important aspect of Christian wisdom and spiritual maturity.
What does “bridle your tongue” mean?
To “bridle” means to restrain or control. A bridle is headgear used to guide and restrain a horse. It enables the rider to control the horse’s movements and behavior.
When the Bible instructs us to “bridle” our tongues, it means we need to carefully control our speech and choose our words wisely. We should not let our tongues run wild, speaking recklessly or destructively. Instead, we need to keep our tongues in check, under control through self-discipline empowered by God’s Spirit.
Why is bridling the tongue important?
The Bible emphasizes bridling the tongue because of the immense power and potential damage of our words. Though the tongue is a small member of the body, it has tremendous influence (James 3:5). Our tongues direct so much of our behavior, relationships, and ministry. Our words can build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, heal or wound. As Jesus said, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Our words reveal the condition of our hearts.
Additionally, the Bible stresses bridling the tongue because it is so difficult to control. Of all the members of our body, the tongue is the most unruly and untamable (James 3:8). Only through God’s help can we harness its power for good rather than letting it run wild in sin.
How can we bridle our tongues?
Bridling the tongue requires constant vigilance and Spirit-empowered self-control. Here are some practical ways we can bridle our tongues:
Pray for God’s help
Pray regularly for God to set a guard over your mouth and keep watch over the door of your lips (Psalm 141:3). Ask him for wisdom to know when to speak and how to speak words that build up others (Ephesians 4:29). We cannot tame our tongues in our own power. We need God’s help.
Think before speaking
The wise person thinks before speaking (Proverbs 15:28), whereas fools blurts things out without reflection (Proverbs 29:11). Develop the habit of pausing to think about your words. Consider if what you plan to say is true, kind, and necessary. This filters out gossip, exaggerations, boasting, manipulations, and other sinful speech.
Listen more than speak
The less we speak, the less chance we have of sinning with our tongue. Listen attentively when others are speaking. Don’t just wait for your turn to talk. Follow the wisdom: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). The wise person restrains their words (Proverbs 10:19).
Avoid those with loose tongues
We become like those we associate with. If we join the company of those uncontrolled with their words, soon we will be echoing their gossip, mockery, obscenities, and so on. Choose your companions wisely. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20).
Fill your heart with God’s Word
Our words flow out of the condition of our heart. If we fill our hearts with God’s truth through studying Scripture, our speech will be impacted. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). Hiding God’s Word in our heart helps us avoid sin (Psalm 119:11). The purity of God’s Word sanctifies our lips.
Speak words that edify
Rather than negative, idle, or deceptive speech, look for opportunities to offer words of grace that build up others (Ephesians 4:29). Compliment rather criticize. Encourage rather than condemn. Offer praise rather than placing blame. Speak truth to help rather than falsehoods that hurt. Let your tongue be an instrument of love.
Bible verses about bridling the tongue
The Bible contains many passages that instruct us to be careful and wise with our words. Here are some key verses about bridling the tongue:
Proverbs 21:23
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
James 3:2-12
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Examples of bridling the tongue in the Bible
There are also many examples in Scripture of godly people who bridled their tongue and were careful with their words:
Job
After losing everything, Job refused to sin with his lips by blaming God (Job 1:22). Later when his friends accused him, Job chose to not answer with angry words but to control his tongue (Job 29:9-10).
David
When mocked and cursed by enemies like Shimei, David bore it patiently without retaliating in kind (2 Samuel 16:5-14). He controlled his tongue and committed the situation to God.
Jesus
Though Jesus faced terrible false accusations and mockery during his trial and crucifixion, he did not respond with threats or angry words (1 Peter 2:23). He bridled his tongue perfectly, even praying for the forgiveness of his persecutors (Luke 23:34).
Stephen
While being stoned to death, Stephen prayed for the forgiveness of those killing him (Acts 7:60). Like Christ, he controlled his tongue to the end.
The danger of an unbridled tongue
Failing to bridle our tongue leads to all kinds of sinful consequences:
Ruined relationships
Lashing out with insults, mockery, gossip, slander, and hurtful speech destroys relationships. “A perverse man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28). Unrestrained speech causes tremendous damage.
Poisoned lives
The tongue “is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Toxic speech poisons us and those who hear it. Cursing, sexual talk, blasphemy, lying, vulgarity – these stain and corrupt the speakers and listeners.
Contaminated ministry
Improper speech undermines our ministry and witness. “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). If we do not control our tongue, we ruin our efforts to build up Christ’s church.
Judgment for every idle word
Jesus warned that “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). There are eternal consequences for using our words destructively. Bridling the tongue is not optional for believers.
Conclusion
Bridling our tongue is a vital but difficult discipline for every Christian and key to living wisely. With God’s help through prayer, wisdom, meditation on Scripture, and self-control empowered by the Spirit, we can harness the immense power of our words for good. When we speak with grace, truth, and love, we bring life rather than death, healing rather than poison. Our example calls others to do likewise, fulfilling the royal law of Scripture: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). May God set a guard over our mouths as we seek to bridle our tongues for his glory.