English Standard Version
Proverbs 18:21
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Context of Proverbs 18:21
19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. 20From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. 23The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.
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 of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
- Proverbs 10:20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.
- Matthew 12:35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
- Romans 10:14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
- 2 Corinthians 2:16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
- 2 Corinthians 11:15So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
- Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
- 2 Peter 2:18For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
- Proverbs 10:9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- Isaiah 57:19creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the Lord, "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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries