Romans 3:14

Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:

Whose {G3739} mouth {G4750} is full {G1073} of cursing {G685} and {G2532} bitterness {G4088}:

Their mouths are full of curses and bitterness.

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Commentary on Romans 3:14 KJV:

Context

This verse is part of a lengthy section in Romans 3 (verses 10-18) where the Apostle Paul compiles various Old Testament scriptures to demonstrate the universal sinfulness of humanity, both Jews and Gentiles. Having established that "all are under sin" (Romans 3:9), he provides this mosaic of quotes to paint a clear picture of the depravity that affects every aspect of human life, including speech. Verse 14 specifically draws from Psalm 10:7 (as found in the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament). It follows descriptions of the corrupt nature of the throat, tongue, and lips, focusing now on the words themselves.

Key Themes

  • The Depravity of Speech: The verse highlights how sin corrupts human communication, filling it with negativity and harm.
  • Inward Bitterness Manifested Outwardly: It links the external act of cursing with an internal state of bitterness, suggesting that harmful words originate from a corrupted heart. This aligns with Jesus' teaching that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
  • Universal Sinfulness: As part of a larger passage on human sin, this verse contributes to the argument that sin permeates every part of the human person, including their words.

Linguistic Insights

The King James rendering "cursing and bitterness" captures the essence of the original Greek.

  • Cursing (ἀρά, ara): This refers to imprecations, speaking ill of others, or calling down evil upon them. It's speech intended to harm or condemn.
  • Bitterness (πικρία, pikria): This word denotes a state of internal resentment, harshness, ill will, or rancor. It's the sour, acrid disposition of the heart that fuels negative and harmful speech.

The verse implies a direct link: the mouth's output of curses is a symptom of the heart's condition of bitterness.

Related Scriptures

This verse is part of a chain of Old Testament quotes in Romans 3:10-18 illustrating the pervasive nature of sin, leading to Paul's conclusion that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The connection between the heart and the mouth is also strongly emphasized by Jesus in Luke 6:45. The destructive power of the tongue is a frequent theme in scripture, notably in James 3:8, which describes it as "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

Practical Application

Romans 3:14 serves as a stark reminder of the potential for our words to be destructive. It challenges us to examine not just what we say, but the internal attitude of bitterness or resentment that might be fueling negative speech like cursing, gossip, or harsh criticism. A transformed heart, cleansed by God's grace, is necessary for our mouths to be full of blessing and praise rather than cursing and bitterness. This verse encourages us to seek God's help in guarding our hearts and our tongues.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 10:7

    His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.

  • Psalms 109:17

    As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

  • Psalms 109:18

    As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.

  • Psalms 59:12

    [For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak.

  • James 3:10

    Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

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