Proverbs 10:19
in Proverbs 10When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
KJV
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
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This verse in Proverbs 10
Commentary
3 notes on this verseThe virtue of silence, especially in church, is very great. Let no sentence of the divine lessons escape you. If you give ear, restrain your voice, utter no word with your lips which you would wish to bring back, but let your boldness to speak be sparing. For in truth in much speaking there is abundance of sin. To the murderer it was said, "You have sinned, be silent," that he might not sin more; but to the virgin it must be said, "Be silent lest you sin."
This site's exposition
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city
on Proverbs 10:15-19
The tongue cluster keeps running through verses framed as consequence: a rich man's wealth is a fortress and a poor man's poverty is his own ruin, labour tends to life while the fruit of wickedness tends to sin, and the way of life belongs to the one who keeps instruction. Verse 18 names the liar's real trade, hiding hatred with lying lips while spreading a slander, before the cluster reaches its center at verse 19, verified: in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Bridges reads the whole run as an argument for silence over speech wherever speech is not required, since every verse in the set prices the tongue's use against its restraint.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
There wanteth not sin - Some render this, “Sin shall not cease,” etc., i. e., many words do not mend a fault. Silence on the part both of the reprover and the offender is often better. The King James Version is, however, preferable.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּרֹ֣ב | bero | in a multitude of | H7230 → | 149 times |
| דְּ֭בָרִים | devarim | words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יֶחְדַּל־ | yechdal- | it ceases | H2308 → | 58 times |
| פָּ֑שַׁע | pasha' | transgression | H6588 → | 93 times |
| וְחֹשֵׂ֖ךְ | vechosekh | and [one who] restrains | H2820 → | 28 times |
| שְׂפָתָ֣יו | sefatav | lips his | H8193 → | 176 times |
| מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ | maskil | [is] acting prudently | H7919 → | 62 times |
בְּרֹ֣בin a multitude of
beroH7230 →149 times
דְּ֭בָרִיםwords
devarimH1697 →1440 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יֶחְדַּל־it ceases
yechdal-H2308 →58 times
פָּ֑שַׁעtransgression
pasha'H6588 →93 times
וְחֹשֵׂ֖ךְand [one who] restrains
vechosekhH2820 →28 times
שְׂפָתָ֣יוlips his
sefatavH8193 →176 times
מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃[is] acting prudently
maskilH7919 →62 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
- Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Proverbs 17:27
Through
James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
it leads to
- James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
- 1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- Matthew 12:37
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- James 1:26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Concerning Virginity 3.3.11; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.