Proverbs 15:4

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Context of Proverbs 15:4

2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness. 3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. 5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible. 6Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

Proverbs 15:4 word by word

מַרְפֵּ֣א לָ֭שׁוֹן עֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים וְסֶ֥לֶף בָּ֝֗הּ שֶׁ֣בֶר בְּרֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear

• soothingמַרְפֵּאmarpê' · healingH4832
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• is a treeעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
• But perversionסֶ֫לֶףseleph · crookednessH5558
• crushesשֶׁ֫בֶרsheber shêber · breakingH7667
• the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307

Cross-references for Proverbs 15:4

• Proverbs 12:18There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Proverbs 16:24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
• Malachi 4:2But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.
• Proverbs 3:18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are those who hold on to her.
• Genesis 3:22Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out with his hand, and take fruit also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”--
• 1 Timothy 6:3If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
• Revelation 2:7The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’
• Proverbs 18:8The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
• Proverbs 26:22The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
• Psalms 109:22For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded 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

• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Tree of life
• Abomination
• Cheerful
• Continual
• Countenance
• Disappoint
• Disperse
• Feast
• Grievous
• Humility

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