Proverbs 18:20
in Proverbs 18From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
KJV
A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
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This verse in Proverbs 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
From the fruit of his mouth
on Proverbs 18:20-21
A man's belly is filled from the fruit of his mouth, so he is satisfied or starved by what he has said. The next verse states the principle: "Life and death are in the power of the tongue," and those who love it will eat its fruit.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
With the fruit of his mouth - Our own words frequently shape our good or evil fortune in life.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The general sense is plain. A man must for good or evil take the consequence of his words, as well as his deeds. Compare the marginal reference.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִפְּרִ֣י | miperi | from [the] fruit of | H6529 → | 119 times |
| פִי־ | fi- | [the] mouth of | H6310 → | 498 times |
| אִ֭ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע | tisba' | it is satisfied | H7646 → | 97 times |
| בִּטְנ֑וֹ | bitno | belly his | H990 → | 72 times |
| תְּבוּאַ֖ת | tevuat | [the] produce of | H8393 → | 42 times |
| שְׂפָתָ֣יו | sefatav | lips his | H8193 → | 176 times |
| יִשְׂבָּֽע׃ | yisba' | he is satisfied | H7646 → | 97 times |
מִפְּרִ֣יfrom [the] fruit of
miperiH6529 →119 times
פִי־[the] mouth of
fi-H6310 →498 times
אִ֭ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
תִּשְׂבַּ֣עit is satisfied
tisba'H7646 →97 times
בִּטְנ֑וֹbelly his
bitnoH990 →72 times
תְּבוּאַ֖ת[the] produce of
tevuatH8393 →42 times
שְׂפָתָ֣יוlips his
sefatavH8193 →176 times
יִשְׂבָּֽע׃he is satisfied
yisba'H7646 →97 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
Proverbs 13:2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
it leads to
- Proverbs 12:14
By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.
- Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
- Psalms 140:11
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
- Proverbs 1:31
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
- Proverbs 12:14
Through
Proverbs 22:18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Proverbs 8:6
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
- Jeremiah 15:16
Through
Proverbs 22:21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and…
- Luke 1:3–4
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
- 1 Peter 3:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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.
