Proverbs 13:3
in Proverbs 13He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
KJV
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
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This verse in Proverbs 13
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline
on Proverbs 13:1-3
“A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,” but “a mocker does not listen to rebuke,” and the chapter returns to the discipline theme. “From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,” and the same organ that feeds a man can destroy him.
This site's exposition
He who guards his mouth protects his life
Adam Clarke recalls how often men have lost their lives by treasonous or blasphemous words. The one who opens his lips wide puts no bounds on his talk and invites ruin. A guarded mouth is a guarded life.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life - How often have the foolish, headstrong, and wicked, forfeited their lives by the treasonable or blasphemous words they have spoken! The government of the tongue is a rare but useful talent. But he that openeth wide his lips - He that puts no bounds to his loquacity, speaks on every subject, and gives his judgment and opinion on every matter.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נֹצֵ֣ר | notzer | [one who] guards | H5341 → | 63 times |
| פִּ֭יו | piv | mouth his | H6310 → | 498 times |
| שֹׁמֵ֣ר | shomer | [is] protecting | H8104 → | 468 times |
| נַפְשׁ֑וֹ | nafsho | life his | H5315 → | 754 times |
| פֹּשֵׂ֥ק | posek | [one who] opens | H6589 → | |
| שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו | sefatav | lips his | H8193 → | 176 times |
| מְחִתָּה־ | mechitah- | ruin | H4288 → | 11 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ | lo | [belongs] to him |
נֹצֵ֣ר[one who] guards
notzerH5341 →63 times
פִּ֭יוmouth his
pivH6310 →498 times
שֹׁמֵ֣ר[is] protecting
shomerH8104 →468 times
נַפְשׁ֑וֹlife his
nafshoH5315 →754 times
פֹּשֵׂ֥ק[one who] opens
posekH6589 →
שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יוlips his
sefatavH8193 →176 times
מְחִתָּה־ruin
mechitah-H4288 →11 times
לֽוֹ׃[belongs] to him
lo
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
Proverbs 18:21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
it leads to
- 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.
- Matthew 12:35–37
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Proverbs 10:19–21
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- James 3:6–9
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on…
- Ephesians 4:29
Through
Psalms 39:1I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
- James 1:26
Through
Proverbs 21:23He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
it leads to
- Proverbs 12:13
An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 12:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.