61 Bible Verses about Silence
Most Relevant Verses
Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
(Yod) Let a person sit alone in silence, when the Lord is disciplining him.
When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you!
But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,
"I have been inactive for a long time; I kept quiet and held back. Like a woman in labor I groan; I pant and gasp.
Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me.
Our God approaches and is not silent; consuming fire goes ahead of him and all around him a storm rages.
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines brightly and her deliverance burns like a torch."
Look, I have decreed: I will not keep silent, but will pay them back; I will pay them back exactly what they deserve, for your sins and your ancestors' sins," says the Lord. "Because they burned incense on the mountains and offended me on the hills, I will punish them in full measure."
By David. To you, O Lord, I cry out! My protector, do not ignore me! If you do not respond to me, I will join those who are descending into the grave.
Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cry for help! Do not ignore my sobbing! For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land; I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.
A song, a psalm of Asaph. O God, do not be silent! Do not ignore us! Do not be inactive, O God!
For the music director, a psalm of David. O God whom I praise, do not ignore me!
In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?
You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?
He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one's own strength that one prevails.
From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.
But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who takes oaths in his name will boast, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be shut up.
When the godly see this, they rejoice, and every sinner shuts his mouth.
like heat in a dry land, you humble the boasting foreigners. Just as the shadow of a cloud causes the heat to subside, so he causes the song of tyrants to cease.
"Sit silently! Go to a hiding place, O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, you will no longer be called 'Queen of kingdoms.'
The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning. The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb. How long will you gash yourselves to show your sorrow, you who remain of Philistia's power?
People will not praise Moab any more. The enemy will capture Heshbon and plot how to destroy Moab, saying, 'Come, let's put an end to that nation!' City of Madmen, you will also be destroyed. A destructive army will march against you.
For the Lord is ready to destroy Babylon, and put an end to her loud noise. Their waves will roar like turbulent waters. They will make a deafening noise.
Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together.
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?" But they were silent.
Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.
And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth.
Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
So Pilate asked him again, "Have you nothing to say? See how many charges they are bringing against you!" But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
and he went back into the governor's residence and said to Jesus, "Where do you come from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.
But Jesus rebuked him: "Silence! Come out of him!" After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.
But Jesus rebuked him: "Silence! Come out of him!" Then, after the demon threw the man down in their midst, he came out of him without hurting him.
So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Be quiet! Calm down!" Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm.
Now Joshua had instructed the army, "Do not give a battle cry or raise your voices; say nothing until the day I tell you, 'Give the battle cry.' Then give the battle cry!"
Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.
The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still." The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.
Some members of the prophetic guild in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, "Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?" He answered, "Yes, I know. Be quiet."
Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
When I went out to the city gate and secured my seat in the public square, the young men would see me and step aside, and the old men would get up and remain standing; the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands;read more.
the voices of the nobles fell silent, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.
But some wicked men said, "How can this man save us?" They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it.
Pay attention, Job -- listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you. If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
The one who denounces his neighbor lacks wisdom, but the one who has discernment keeps silent.
Then you will remember, be ashamed, and remain silent when I make atonement for all you have done, declares the sovereign Lord.'"
Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.
The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
I will silence the noise of your songs; the sound of your harps will be heard no more.
Groan in silence for the dead, but do not perform mourning rites. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip and do not eat food brought by others."
After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left to go to Macedonia.
From Thematic Bible
Prudence » Silence
Silence » Of Christ » Silence encouraged, upon the disciples by Christ
Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Then Jesus said to him, "See that you do not speak to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Then he ordered the man to tell no one, but commanded him, "Go and show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly warned them, "See that no one knows about this."
Silence » Value of » General references to
The one who denounces his neighbor lacks wisdom, but the one who has discernment keeps silent.
When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.
Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Silence » Keep » Men commanded to keep silent
Some members of the prophetic guild in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, "Do you know that today the Lord is going to take your master from you?" He answered, "Yes, I know. Be quiet."
Many scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
They said to him, "Shut up! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us! You can be our adviser and priest. Wouldn't it be better to be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for just one man's family?"
Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve."
Silence » Keep » In God's presence
Be silent before the Lord God, for the Lord's day of judgment is almost here. The Lord has prepared a sacrificial meal; he has ritually purified his guests.
Be silent in the Lord's presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place.
Silence » Of Christ » Before pilate
Silence » Of Christ » Foretold
He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth.
Silence » Of Christ » Before the high priest
So the high priest stood up and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
Silence » Keep » When the circumstances demand
Silence » Keep » In God's house
But the Lord is in his majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in his presence!"
Silence » Keep » In the presence of enemies
Now Joshua had instructed the army, "Do not give a battle cry or raise your voices; say nothing until the day I tell you, 'Give the battle cry.' Then give the battle cry!"
Silence » Of Christ » In the closing days of his work
I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,
Silence » Of Christ » Before herod
Silence » Keep » In evil times
Silence » Of Christ » In the presence of a woman's accusers
(Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
Topics on Silence
How Silence Is Wise
Proverbs 10:19When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.