EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Proverbs 18:21
21Words have the power to bring life or death. So be careful if you talk a lot!
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
19If you insult a relative, it will be difficult to become friends with him again. Arguments keep people apart, like the walls of a strong city. 20If you speak words that help people, they are like good food. Words have the power to bring life or death. So be careful if you talk a lot! 22If you find a wife, you find a good thing. The Lord has given you something to enjoy. 23A poor person has to ask for help. But a rich person can insult people.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:21 word by word
מָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:21
- Proverbs 18:4The words that you speak are like the deep water of the sea. If they are wise words, they are like a cool stream.
- Proverbs 10:20The words of righteous people are as valuable as the best silver. But the thoughts of wicked people are useless.
- Proverbs 11:30The good things that a righteous person does bring life. A person who saves people's lives shows that he is wise.
- Matthew 12:35It is like things that you bring out of a room where you keep them. The good man says good things because he keeps good thoughts in his mind. The bad man says bad things because he keeps bad thoughts in his mind.
- Romans 10:14But people will never ask Christ to help them if they have not believed in him. And they will never believe in him if they have not heard about him. And they will not hear about him unless somebody tells God's message to them.
- 2 Corinthians 2:16For the people who are dying, we are like a bad smell that brings a message of death. But for the people that God is saving, we are like a lovely smell that brings a message of new life. Nobody is really good enough to tell such an important message!
- 2 Corinthians 11:15So do not be surprised when Satan's servants do the same thing. They can also seem to be serving God. They may seem to be doing good things, but really what they do is bad. So God will punish them in the end.
- Ephesians 4:29Do not say bad things that hurt or insult people. Instead, say only good things that will help people. Your words should help people to become strong when they hear them.
- Colossians 4:6When you speak to people, always speak kind words. Say things that will help them. Then, when someone asks you a question, you will know how to reply.
- James 3:6A person's tongue is like a fire. It has the power of everything in the world that is wrong. It is a small part of the body but it can spoil the whole person. Like a fire, it can destroy all of a person's life. It is a fire that comes from the fire of hell itself.
- 2 Peter 2:18The messages that these teachers speak seem very important. But their words really mean nothing. In that way, they lead people away from God. Some people have not been believers for very long. They have only just become free from the wrong things that people do. But the false teachers tell these people to do bad things that will make them happy.
- Proverbs 10:9If people are honest, their lives are safe. But those who are not honest will receive punishment.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12People respect a wise person, because of the things that he says. But the words of a fool will destroy him.
- Isaiah 57:19will sing songs to praise me! I will give them a reason to do that. I will bring peace to all my people, those who are far away, and those who are near. Yes, I will make them completely well again.’ That is what the Lord says.
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
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