God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 18:20
20A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach. His talking provides him a living.
Proverbs 18:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
- New International Version (NIV)From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
- English Standard Version (ESV)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
Context of Proverbs 18:20
18Flipping a coin ends quarrels and settles ⌞issues⌟ between powerful people. 19An offended brother is more ⌞resistant⌟ than a strong city, and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower. A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach. His talking provides him a living. 21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words. 22Whoever finds a wife finds something good and has obtained favor from the Lord.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:20 word by word
מִפְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑וֹ תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣יו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:20
- Proverbs 12:13An evil person is trapped by his own sinful talk, but a righteous person escapes from trouble.
- Proverbs 13:2A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability, but the appetite of treacherous people ⌞craves⌟ violence.
- Proverbs 22:18It is pleasant if you keep them in mind ⌞so that⌟ they will be on the tip of your tongue,
- Proverbs 25:11⌞Like⌟ golden apples in silver settings, ⌞so⌟ is a word spoken at the right time.
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20With the fruit of his mouth - Our own words frequently shape our good or evil fortune in life.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The general sense is plain. A man must for good or evil take the consequence of his words, as well as his deeds. Compare the marginal reference.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 The belly is here put for the heart, as elsewhere; and what that is filled with, our satisfaction will be accordingly, and our inward peace.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. (Compare Pr 12:14; 13:2). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them. satisfied with--(Compare Pr 1:31; 14:14).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:20
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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