Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

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

Commentary

The word for "corrupt" (or "unwholesome") refers to that which is foul or rotten, such as spoiled fruit or putrid meat. Foul language of any sort should never pass a Christian's lips, because it is totally out of character with his new life in Christ (see Col. 3:8; James 3:6-8; cf. Ps. 141:3).The Christian's speech should be instructive, encouraging, uplifting, (even when it must be corrective), and suited for the moment (cf. Prov. 15:23; 25:11; 24:26).

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Eph 4:29). Nashville: Word Pub.