Ephesians 4:29

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Read all of Ephesians 4

12 songs meet this passage

  • Stargazing · Kid Cudi

    resonates with Ephesians 4:29

    The longing to speak honest, building words to someone loved reflects the value Scripture places on words that give grace to the hearer.

  • Xenophile · Azizi Gibson

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    Paul urges speech that builds others up; this line exists only to demean and silence.

  • “Freaky-ass niggas need to stay they ass inside”

    Not Like Us · Kendrick Lamar

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    Scripture calls for speech that builds up; this track's language, however pointed its target, trades almost entirely in degrading and crude terms.

  • squabble up · Kendrick Lamar

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    Degrading language toward women runs counter to the call for speech that builds others up rather than tearing them down.

  • “Fuck my life”

    Manchild · Sabrina Carpenter

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    The casual profanity used for comedic venting stands apart from Paul's call toward speech that builds others up, though the moment is more flippant than malicious.

  • Houdini (Mixed) · Eminem

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    Paul calls for words that build others up and give grace to those who hear. This song is almost architecturally designed to do the opposite, using language as a wrecking ball rather than a gift.

  • Happier Than Ever (Edit) · Billie Eilish

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    The explicit language in the second half is the real point of tension. The verse calls for words that build up rather than tear down. The argument could be made that the anger is legitimate, but the delivery does not stay in that lane.

  • “I just shitted better than 90 percent of you rappers”

    The Real Slim Shady (Live From MTV VMAs / 2000) · Eminem

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    Paul urges speech that builds others up; this boast trades in self-glorifying crudeness instead.

  • “Words from my lips as the arms of compassion”

    Speak Life · TobyMac

    resonates with Ephesians 4:29

    Paul's instruction to let words build others up is exactly the posture this lyric imagines.

  • “An asshole, that role I think I succeeded fulfillin”

    A*****e (feat. Skylar Grey) · Eminem

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    The song openly embraces coarse, tearing-down speech as its brand, the opposite of words meant to build others up.

  • N***a N***a N***a · Gangsta Rap

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    Paul calls believers to let only words that build others up come out of their mouths. This song's sustained use of dehumanizing language runs directly against that standard.

  • “Fuck them, fuck Dre, fuck Jimmy, fuck me, fuck you”

    Houdini · Eminem

    strains against Ephesians 4:29

    A torrent of contempt aimed indiscriminately, standing far from Paul's instruction toward speech that builds others up.

Each reading weighs one song’s words against Scripture. It is AI-assisted and can be wrong; open a song to see its whole reading and decide for yourself.

Elsewhere in Ephesians 4