"Biblical Characteristics of Sound Speech"

by Whitney V. Myers

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Go to the page, "Bible Verses About Sound Speech" (under the "Resources" heading)

A Word Spoken in Right Circumstances (Proverbs 25:11) - 123RF Photo

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
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"Good men will be cautious what they say." -- John Gill (1697-1771) (Ref. 1, Ref. 2)

This article is the second in the series, "Biblical Principles of Sound Speech."  Today's lesson focuses on the attributes of sound speech, that is, the essential characteristics that our speech should have.  

     Consider.  Think for a moment.  What do you think the positive qualities of speech should be?  If someone asked you to describe what the Bible says our speech should be like, what would you say in reply? 

Today's lesson describes the biblical characteristics of sound speech in Ephesians 4:29.  Today's verse is part of the Apostle Paul's letter to Christian believers at the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1).

Let No Unwholesome Word

     The first characteristic of sound speech in Ephesians 4:29 is that it should be wholesome.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines wholesome as promoting health and well being, sound in mind and morals, prudent, and safe (Ref. 3).  Our wholesome speech should promote the well-being of others, as we will see in the discussion below.

The Apostle Paul begins Ephesians 4:29 with the phrase, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth." The Greek word for unwholesome is sapros.  Sapros means rotten, worthless, bad, corrupt and is applied to putrid vegetable or animal substances (Ref. 4, Ref. 5 below, Ref. 6).  Matthew 7:17-18 uses the same word.  Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt [sapros] tree bringeth forth evil fruit" (Matthew 7:17, brackets added).

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul instructs us to restrain our mouths so we do not let any unwholesome (bad, rotten, corrupt) words go forth.  Bad language not only reflects the corruptness of the "heart of a speaker" but also tends "to corrupt the minds or manners of hearers" (Ref. 7). 

If you would like to read more on what the Bible says about avoiding cursing and profanity, please go to the page, "Bible Verses About Sound Speech" and read the last section (Ref. 8).

Good For Edification

     The second characteristic of sound speech in Ephesians 4:29 is that our speech should be good for edification.  That is, our speech should build others up, not tear them down.  The Greek word for edification is oikodomé.  The short definition of oikodomé is a building or edifice (Ref. 9).  However, edification of people means more than building an architectural structure.  Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines oikodomé as "the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, happiness​" (Ref. 9). 
   

According to the Need of the Moment (Timely)

     The third characteristic of sound speech in Ephesians 4:29 is that our speech should be according to the need and that it should be timely.  The Greek word for need is chreia, which means need, necessity, business, occasion (Ref. 10).  The English Standard Version (ESV) translates this phrase, "as fits the occasion" (Ref. 11).  Our speech should edify (build up) our hearers according to the particular need of their spiritual state (Ref. 12). 

The phrase, "According to the need of the moment," suggests to me that in our roles (for example, authors, teachers, parents, spouses, co-workers, team members, friends) we need always to pray and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance about what to say to our hearers and when to speak.  Sometimes when we have a good idea, it may not be the right occasion or the right time to blurt it out.  Our hearers will "hear" better when the Holy Spirit has prepared them to receive what we have to say.  We should pray about when we should share our idea, inspiration, request, or constructive criticism.  As an example from Scripture, God provided the occasion for Nehemiah to speak his request to King Artaxerses approximately four months after Nehemiah had prayed to God about the condition of Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah 1:1, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:1, Nehemiah 2:4). 

King Solomon addressed the importance of timeliness in Proverbs 25:11.  "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances."  Our speech not only should be sensitive to the circumstances, but also should be spoken at the right time.  We should look to God to guide us as to when that time will be.

Give Grace to Those Who Hear

     The fourth characteristic of sound speech in Ephesians 4:29 is that our speech should be grace-giving, that is, "give grace to those who hear."  The Greek word for grace is charis, which means grace, kindness, favor, and especially, God's divine influence upon the heart (Ref. 13, Ref. 5 below).  Our speech should minister the grace of God to others.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29 - 1599 Geneva Bible). 

     Summary.  As Christians, and as instructed by the Bible in Ephesians 4:29, our speech should exhibit four essential qualities.  Our speech should be wholesome, good for edification (building up others), appropriate for the occasion (timely), and give grace to those who hear.   

​To see additional attributes of sound speech from the Bible, please refer to the separate page, "Bible Verses About Sound Speech" (Ref. 8).

     Apply.  Memorize Ephesians 4:29 so you will always have this verse and these four essential characteristics of sound speech in mind. 

Related Lessons
"Biblical Principles of Sound Speech - Be a Good Example" (Titus 2:7-8)
"Biblical Principles of Sound Speech - Our Heart and Our Mouth" (Matthew 15:18)
"Biblical Principles of Sound Speech - A Time to Be Silent" (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

References
1.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/ephesians/4.htm
2.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gill_(theologian)
3.  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholesome
4.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4550.htm
5.  James Strong, "The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible," Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995
6.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/ephesians/4.htm
7.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/ephesians/4.htm
​8.  https://www.ScriptureWay.com/bible-verses-about-sound-speech
​9.  https://biblehub.com/greek/3619.htm
10.  https://biblehub.com/greek/5532.htm
11.  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A29&version=ESV
12.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/4.htm
13.  ​https://biblehub.com/greek/5485.htm
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