The Bible condemns various misuses of the tongue, including lying, slander, gossip, cursing, back-biting and even false-teaching. This article will focus primarily upon profanity and vulgarity. The use of profanity and obscene language continues to be a terrible problem in many cultures and countries. Some people seem unable to utter a single sentence without including some type of expletive. Even very young children are becoming quite adept in the use of obscenities. They learn foul language from their parents, schoolmates, movies, music, video games, social media and elsewhere. Like any other habit it becomes hard to break. I have seen converts struggle for years to break the habit of profanity.
We typically associate bad language with worldly people but even God’s people are not exempt from the temptation to curse and use bad language. Although Peter had been earlier warned by Jesus, Matthew 26:69-75 records Peter’s three-time denial of Jesus. Angered by a third accusation of being a disciple of Christ, Peter “began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed” (Matthew 26:74). By reacting emotionally and speaking out of anger, Peter said some horrible things. The “curse” of this passage was Peter’s calling down of curses of condemnation upon his accusers. We see this today in the form of the expressions “God damn you!” or “go to hell!” The words damn and hell are Bible terms and are acceptable to use when used properly. I use them regularly when teaching and preaching. However, wishing for God to “damn” someone’s eternal soul is the worst thing that could be wished upon him. Telling someone to “go to hell” is the worst thing that you can tell a person to do. The sentiment is directly opposite of what should be felt and expressed to others, even to one’s enemies. Matthew 5:44 tells us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us and pray for those who abuse us.
The “swearing” that Peter did was also sinful. Not merely because Peter was lying about not knowing Jesus, but because the Lord condemns swearing as a means of affirming truth (Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22). We are not told by what Peter swore the third time that he denied knowing Jesus (whether by heaven, earth, the Temple, the altar…etc), but he was wrong to answer more than “yes” or “no” (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12).
We do sometimes hear self-professed “religious” people use various types of profanity. I have never understood this, for the Bible regularly warns against the use of corrupt and profane language (Ephesians 4:29; 5:4; 2 Timothy 2:16). It teaches that in the final judgment people will “give account of every idle word” that they have spoken (Matthew 12:36).
Different Types Of Obscene & Profane Language
Using God’s Name In Vain / Blasphemy: Some of the foul language that people use is wrong because it is crude and vulgar. Some of it is downright blasphemous. Some readers may be surprised by what the Bible actually teaches about what constitutes profanity. In biblical usage profanity involves the misuse of God’s name and disparaging talk about the things of God. However, we typically think of the commonly used “4-letter” words when we think of the word “profanity.” Some people would never use a so-called “curse” word but regularly take God’s name in vain by using it as an exclamatory (“God!,” “Jesus Christ!,” “good Lord!,” “my God!” “oh God!,” “for God’s sake!,” and yes, even “OMG!”). Some of the people who do this are actually conscientious people but have just never been taught the truth about profanity. The 3rd commandment explicitly forbade the taking of God’s name “in vain” (Exodus 20:7), and though we aren’t directly under the Law of Moses today, Matthew 5:33-37 and 23:16-22 contain the same principle regarding the holiness of God’s name. One uses God’s name “in vain” by making it a mere exclamation or byword, or by using it in an unholy or sacrilegious way. People exclaim “oh my God!” over the smallest and most insignificant of matters. This uses God’s name “in vain” and it is wrong.
The most extreme form of profanity is blasphemy, which is insulting or speaking ill of God. Leviticus 24:10-16 records the story of this being done by the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian man. The Israelites inquired of God as to what to do in the matter. They were told, “…Whoever curses his God shall bear his guilt. And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death…” (Leviticus 24:15b-16a). Blasphemy is also condemned in the New Testament (Colossians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:20).
Vulgar and Obscene Language: The term profanity is typically used to describe the use of obscene and foul language. It has traditionally described the use of certain four-letter “curse words” such as hell, damn, s*** (feces) and f*** (sexual intercourse). The f-word and the s-word most always have a vulgar connotation, though the s-word has not always been so used. It was originally used as a mere description, in the same way that one today might use the word feces, poop or crap with no inherent vulgar connotation. I have known some very conscientious people (mainly farmers) who used the s-word to describe cow manure and they used it with no evil or vulgar connotation whatsoever. However, most people today do use the s-word as a term of vulgarity, such as saying that someone is “full of s***,” which is usually intended to insult someone’s intelligence, integrity or abilities. In principle, Matthew 5:22 condemns this use of the s-word, for it condemns hateful and insulting expressions of ridicule and contempt for others. The s-word is also frequently used in the context of threats of violence against others (“beat the ____ out of someone”). This use violates various passages and principles governing the proper treatment of others (Colossians 3:12; Matthew 5:38-45). Being “injurious” was one of the behaviors that classified Paul as “chiefest of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:13-15).
One of the more commonly used words of vulgarity in modern times is the “f-word” (four-letter word for sexual intercourse). It is now used for about every type of situation that one can imagine, from an expression of anger to a description of an amount of damage inflicted to some thing or someone. My dictionary lists about a dozen different vulgar slang uses of the word. Sadly, most of us have heard them all. Hollywood, video gaming and certain genres of the music industry have greatly popularized the term, especially among young people. Many otherwise good movies have been ruined by its constant usage. The f-word is also heard in many workplaces and at sporting events. It is often used by military members and policemen. My brother has worked in law enforcement for years and he said that he has seen cases where use of the f-word has escalated tensions between law officers and law breakers. Ironically, the word is as popular in much of the law enforcement community as it is in the criminal / gangster community! Some will defend the word by saying that it is merely a slang word for “sex.” While this is true, it is typically used in a debasing and degrading way. I never hear it used as a description of a blessing and expression of love between a married man and woman as in Proverbs 5:15-19! Others have pointed out that the word’s etymology dates back to it being an acronym for the expression “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.” The first letters of these words were allegedly written on a sign that was placed over the head of an adulterer or adulteress thus indicating their crime. Regardless of whether or not the word originated in this way, the fact is that no one so uses the term today! It is used as a term of vulgarity, not as a legal term.
Destructive Language: Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers (NKJV).” This verse has been traditionally cited as proof that one should not say the “four-letter” words. The verse is actually much broader than this. It actually prohibits destructive language. That is, language that tears down other people rather than build them up. So yes, as I described in certain language scenarios above, this includes various vulgar uses of the commonly used four-letter words, but it is not limited to their use. The words “raca” and “fool” are also four letter words, but the verse banning their use has to do with unjust hatred of a brother and various expressions that might be wrongly used against him. According to Matthew 5:22, there is an improper use of the word “fool” (Gr. moros, from which we get “moron”). However, Jesus repeatedly called certain people “fools” (Matthew 23:17, 19) and “foolish” (Matthew 25:2, 5, 8). Jesus knew the hearts of the scribes and pharisees in Matthew 23, so He could rightly call them fools. The foolish virgins of Matthew 25 had manifested their foolishness by their actions. Hence, they were called foolish. The Matthew 5:22 context addresses the use of these words as expressions of unjust hatred, not when applied justly. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1). We may rightly say that one is a fool who rejects the existence of God.
Foolish Talk and Course Jesting: Ephesians 5:4 condemns the use of “foolish talk” and “course jesting.” In the Greek word for “foolish talk” (morologos) we again see the word for moron, hence the notion of senseless and moronic talk. This “talk of fools” expresses not the high and honorable thoughts and will of God, but the low and corruptible works of sin. Course jesting includes discussions and stories about sinful practices. Since fornication and uncleanness are in this context, we typically think of dirty jokes and crude sexual humor when we think of course jesting. This would also include pornographic literature which I recently heard was growing in popularity. Paul said that it is “shameful” to even “speak of” the (sinful) things that are done by them in secret (Ephesians 5:12). Course language incites lust by discussing the pleasureful nature of sin (see Hebrews 11:25 for the term). It is language that glorifies sin and takes pleasure in the sins of others (Romans 1:32).
Conclusion
The use and acceptance of course, profane and obscene language reflects the coarseness of our present society. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). People typically speak consistently with how they think and act. This should be a warning to everyone. Christians may not be able to stop all of the profanity around them, but they can govern their own language (James 3), and they can work to teach and warn others of the consequences of sin (Colossians 1:28).
—Tim Haile