Proverbs 18:4

Proverbs 18:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
• New International Version (NIV)The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

Context of Proverbs 18:4

2A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. 3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. 5It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

Proverbs 18:4 word by word

מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים דִּבְרֵ֣י פִי־אִ֑ישׁ נַ֥חַל נֹ֝בֵ֗עַ מְק֣וֹר חָכְמָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of a man’sאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• deepעָמֹק‛âmôq · deepH6013
• watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• the wellspringמָקוֹרmâqôr mâqôr · fountainH4726
• of wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• a flowingנָבַעnâba‛ · to bubbleH5042
• brookנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: riverH5158

Cross-references for Proverbs 18:4

• Proverbs 10:11The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
• Proverbs 13:14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
• Proverbs 16:22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.
• Proverbs 20:5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.
• Matthew 12:34Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
• John 4:14but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
• John 7:38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
• Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
• Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
• Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,

Commentaries on Proverbs 18:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The words of a man's mouth - That is, the wise sayings of a wise man are like deep waters; howsoever much you pump or draw off, you do not appear to lessen them. The well-spring of wisdom - Where there is a sound understanding, and a deep, well-informed mind, its wisdom and its counsels are an incessant stream, חכמה מקור mekor chochmah, "the vein of wisdom," ever throwing out its healthy streams: but חיים מקור mekor chaiyim, "the vein of Lives," is the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The parallelism of the two clauses is probably one of contrast. If so, the proverb is a comparison between all teaching from without and that of the light within. “The words of a man‘s mouth” are dark as the “deep waters” of a pool, or tank (“deep waters” being associated in the Old Testament with the thought of darkness and mystery; compare Proverbs 20:5; Psalm 69:2; Ecclesiastes 7:24); but “the wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook,” bright and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 The well-spring of wisdom in the heart of a believer, continually supplies words of wisdom.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Words reflect a person's character, like water springs from the earth (see also Proverbs 10:20; 12:23; 16:23; compare James 3:10–12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 18:4

• Quotations and Allusions
• 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