Proverbs 18:21

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

19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. 20With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. 23The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly.

Proverbs 18:21 word by word

מָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

• Deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
• powerיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• of the tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• And those who loveאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• it will eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• fruitפְּרִיperîy · fruitH6529

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 as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.
• Matthew 12:35The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
• Romans 10:14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
• 2 Corinthians 2:16to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
• 2 Corinthians 11:15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
• Ephesians 4:29Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
• Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
• James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
• 2 Peter 2:18For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
• Proverbs 10:9He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
• Ecclesiastes 10:12Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;
• Isaiah 57:19Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is 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

• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Brother
• Contention
• Innermost
• Offend
• Slothful
• Snare
• Stick
• Waster
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

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