Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 15:4
4The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks 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 makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness. 3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good. The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit. 5A fool despises his father’s discipline, but a person who accepts correction is sensible. 6The house of the righteous has great wealth, but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.
Read all of Proverbs 15Proverbs 15:4 word by word
מַרְפֵּ֣א לָ֭שׁוֹן עֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים וְסֶ֥לֶף בָּ֝֗הּ שֶׁ֣בֶר בְּרֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 15:4
- Proverbs 12:18There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 16:24Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.
- Malachi 4:2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.
- Proverbs 3:18She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who hold on to her are happy.
- Genesis 3:22The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”
- 1 Timothy 6:3If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,
- Revelation 2:7“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
- Proverbs 18:8A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.
- Proverbs 26:22A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.
- Psalms 52:2Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.
- Psalms 109:22For I am suffering and needy; 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
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