English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:4
4A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Context of Proverbs 15:4
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. 5A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls 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 whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 16:24Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
- Malachi 4:2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
- Proverbs 3:18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
- Genesis 3:22Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—"
- 1 Timothy 6:3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
- Revelation 2:7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'
- Proverbs 18:8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
- Proverbs 26:22The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
- Psalms 109:22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries