Proverbs 18:21
in Proverbs 18Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
KJV
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 18
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA wound arising from words is unbearable.… Truly, dearly beloved, if you look deeply, and diligently investigate the swelling tumor of an exasperated heart, you will discover that the wounds produced by words cause deaths.
This 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.
This site's exposition
in the power of the tongue
John Gill applies the verse to witnesses, judges and teachers, whose words bring life or death. Valerian of Cimiez says wounding words cause death. Those who love the tongue eat its fruit, as verse 20 pictures the mouth filling the belly.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Christ makes the same point when he says, "By your own words you will be condemned, and by your words you will be justified."The tongue stands in the middle ready for either use; you are its master. So also does a sword lie in the middle; if you use it against the enemy, it becomes an instrument for your safety; if you use it to wound yourself, it is not the steel but your own transgression of the law that causes your death. Let us think of the tongue in the same way, as a sword lying in the middle. Sharpen it to accuse yourself of your own sins, but do not use it to wound your brother. Hence, God has surrounded the tongue with a double wall—with the barrier of the teeth and the fence of the lips—in order that it may not easily and heedlessly utter words it should not speak.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." If the woman had kept silent when the devil said to her: "Why has God commanded you not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?" the devil would not have …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,.... Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all men, who, by their well or ill speaking, bring death or life to themselves and others.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Death and life are in the power of the tongue - This may apply to all men. Many have lost their lives by their tongue, and some have saved their lives by it: but it applies most forcibly to public pleaders; on many of their tongues hangs life or death.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Death and life--or, the greatest evil and good. that love it--that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil. eat . . . fruit--(Compare Pr 18:19;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
1 more voice on this verse
Modern Voices1 voice
Our words reveal the condition of our hearts. Fear speaks one language. Faith speaks another.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מָ֣וֶת | mavet | death | H4194 → | 156 times |
| וְ֭חַיִּים | vechaiyim | and life | H2416 → | 498 times |
| בְּיַד־ | beyad- | [are] in [the] hand of | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לָשׁ֑וֹן | lashon | [the] tongue | H3956 → | 117 times |
| וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ | veohaveiha | and [those who] love it | H157 → | 211 times |
| יֹאכַ֥ל | yokhal | he will eat | H398 → | 810 times |
| פִּרְיָֽהּ׃ | piryah | fruit its | H6529 → | 119 times |
מָ֣וֶתdeath
mavetH4194 →156 times
וְ֭חַיִּיםand life
vechaiyimH2416 →498 times
בְּיַד־[are] in [the] hand of
beyad-H3027 →1618 times
לָשׁ֑וֹן[the] tongue
lashonH3956 →117 times
וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָand [those who] love it
veohaveihaH157 →211 times
יֹאכַ֥לhe will eat
yokhalH398 →810 times
פִּרְיָֽהּ׃fruit its
piryahH6529 →119 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
Ephesians 4:29Let 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.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- Colossians 3:8–9
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12
Through
Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
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.
- 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…
- Mark 9:50
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
- Ephesians 4:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 9; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTIONS 9:33-35; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Troy Brewer, "Well, I Declare" devotional, Troy Brewer Ministries blog and Valerian of Cimiez, HOMILY 5:4.