Meaning, commentary and cross references
Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
NIV · New International Version
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
WEB · World English Bible
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
What does Proverbs 18:21 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Proverbs 18:21
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. Some, by their tongues, by the too free use of them, or falsehood they utter, are the cause of death to themselves and others; and some, by their silence, or by their prudent speech and prevalent intercession, secure or obtain life for themselves and others; yea, judgment at the last day will proceed according to a man's words, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Proverbs 18:21
Note, 1. A man may do a great deal of good, or a great deal of hurt, both to others and to himself, according to the use he makes of his tongue. Many a one has been his own death by a foul tongue, or the death of others by a false tongue; and, on the contrary, many a one has saved his own life, or procured the comfort of it, by a prudent gentle tongue, and saved the lives of others by a seasonable testimony or intercession for them. And, if by our words we must be justified or condemned, death and life are, no doubt, in the power of the tongue.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Proverbs 18:18–24 (WEB)
18The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart. 19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress. 20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. 22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD. 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. 24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Cross references
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- Matthew 12:35–37
The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
- Proverbs 10:19–21
In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
- James 3:6–9
And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
- Proverbs 13:2–3
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
- Proverbs 10:31
The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
- Proverbs 18:4–7
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.