American Standard Version
Proverbs 18:21
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue;And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Context of Proverbs 18:21
19A brother offendedis harder to be won than a strong city; Andsuchcontentions are like the bars of a castle. 20A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied. Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah. 23The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:21 word by word
מָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:21
- Proverbs 18:4The words of a man’s mouth areasdeep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
- Proverbs 10:20The tongue of the righteous isaschoice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
- Matthew 12:35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
- Romans 10:14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
- 2 Corinthians 2:16to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
- 2 Corinthians 11:15It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
- Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
- 2 Peter 2:18For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
- Proverbs 10:9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
- Isaiah 57:19I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Death 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.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious tongue.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Life and death: Wise people speak thoughtfully (Proverbs 10:19; 11:12; 12:23) because they know words have consequences (13:3; 14:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. 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; Jas 1:19).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 18
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries