If you have been paying any attention at all, you have noticed that the amount of profanity being spewed out all over the place is skyrocketing. You can hardly watch the news, movies and TV, or even walk through a store these days without hearing people swearing all over the place. And more and more we are hearing even very profane swear words that you would never hear in polite society in the past. It has become commonplace and absolutely acceptable at a level that never used to be.
Recently, an article came out about a study done by U.K. researcher Richard Stephens that concluded swearing is “a drug-free, calorie-neutral, and cost-free means of self help.” (You can read the article yourself at https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/swearing-cursing-profanity/2025/03/10/id/1202220/
Wow! What a disgusting spin on what is actually profane and vulgar. Now swearing is a means of self help? And another author named Emma Byrne has even written a book called Swearing is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language.
Here are some of the findings of Stephens’ research:
- Help with pain tolerance – When people held their hands in ice water for a period of time, cursing helped them not only tolerate the pain, but also reduced their perception of pain.
- Improved athletic performance – Athletes in training improved their performances when they swore.
- Improved brain function – Participants who read a list of words that included swear words were more likely to remember those words compared to a list of neutral words.
The article even gave some advice on the best way to use swearing to achieve desired results. It said, “If no word comes to mind, use the F-word, which was the most frequently used in research studies. Swear at a steady pace once a second to once every three seconds, at normal speech volume.”
While researchers don’t precisely know the physiological mechanisms that cause all these effects, it is recognized that it induces a heightened emotional state that promotes these various outcomes.
Wow, with all of those benefits, everyone should start swearing, right? Ugh!
Well, those who don’t care about biblical morality can certainly make a case for increased swearing. In fact, using naturalistic beliefs, all kinds of sin can be rationalized. Beating up people who offend you can provide an emotional release. Excessive speeding can help you get to your destination faster. Stealing other people’s money can ease a person’s financial problems. Constantly overeating can give a person emotional comfort. And we could probably continue on with this list ‘till the cows come home.
So, since we can come up with “benefits” for all of these sins, does that make it okay to incorporate them into our lives? No, not really.
Here’s what the Bible says about it:
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ 34 “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. 36 “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes ‘ or ‘No, no ‘; anything beyond these is of evil. Matthew 5:33-37
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. Luke 6:45
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
… and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:4
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. James 5:12
And there are many other verses that say the same thing.
So, the answer is, “NO, it is not okay to swear.” God is holy, and He has revealed clearly in His revelation to us that He desires us to imitate Him in that regard. And filthy language works against that outcome. Even what many people consider a good outcome may not be good in God’s sight. That is certainly true when it comes to profanity.