Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 18:21
21Death and life are in the control of the tongue. Those who indulge in it will eat its fruit.
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
19An offended brother is more formidable than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress. 20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled— with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. Death and life are in the control of the tongue. Those who indulge in it will eat its fruit. 22Whoever finds a wife finds good, and receives favor from Adonai. 23The poor request favor, but the rich answer harshly.
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 one’s mouth are deep waters, a fountain of wisdom, a flowing brook.
- Proverbs 10:20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little value.
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever wins souls is wise.
- Matthew 12:35The good man from his good treasury brings forth good, and the evil man from his evil treasury brings forth evil.
- Romans 10:14How then shall they call on the One in whom they have not trusted? And how shall they trust in the One they have not heard of? And how shall they hear without someone proclaiming?
- 2 Corinthians 2:16to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. Who is competent for these things?
- 2 Corinthians 11:15It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their deeds.
- Ephesians 4:29Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer everyone.
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of evil placed among our body parts. It pollutes the whole body and sets on fire the course of life—and is set on fire by Gehenna.
- 2 Peter 2:18For by mouthing grandiosities that amount to nothing, they entice in sensual fleshly passions those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
- Proverbs 10:9One who walks in integrity, walks securely, but one who takes crooked paths will be discovered.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool destroy him.
- Isaiah 57:19Creating the praise of lips: ‘Shalom, shalom to him who is far and to him who is near,’ says Adonai, ‘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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries