American Standard Version
Proverbs 15:4
4A gentle tongue is a tree of life;But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
- New International Version (NIV)The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Context of Proverbs 15:4
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly. 3The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit. 5A fool despiseth his father’s correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence. 6In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Read all of Proverbs 15Proverbs 15:4 word by word
מַרְפֵּ֣א לָ֭שׁוֹן עֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים וְסֶ֥לֶף בָּ֝֗הּ שֶׁ֣בֶר בְּרֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 15:4
- Proverbs 12:18There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
- Proverbs 16:24Pleasant words areas a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
- Malachi 4:2But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.
- Proverbs 3:18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
- Genesis 3:22And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—
- 1 Timothy 6:3If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
- Revelation 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
- Proverbs 18:8The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
- Proverbs 26:22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
- Psalms 52:2Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- Psalms 109:22For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.
Commentaries on Proverbs 15:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life - Here again is an allusion to the paradisiacal tree, חיים עץ ets chaiyim, "the tree of lives."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4A wholesome tongue - literally, as in the margin, the same word as “sound” in Proverbs 14:30 (see the note). A more literal rendering would be soundness of speech. Tree of life - Compare Proverbs 3:18 note. Breach in the spirit - With the sense of vexation (compare Isaiah 65:14).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 A good tongue is healing to wounded consciences, by comforting them; to sin-sick souls, by convincing them; and it reconciles parties at variance.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. A wholesome tongue--(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language. tree of life--(Pr 3:18; 11:30). perverseness therein--cross, ill-natured language. breach ... spirit--(compare Is 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 15:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries