What is the meaning of Proverbs 10:21? Setting the scene “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment” (Proverbs 10:21). Nestled in a chapter of sharp contrasts, this proverb sets life-giving words against deadly foolishness. It invites us to watch our speech, value sound judgment, and realize that every sentence we utter carries either nourishment or poison (Proverbs 18:21). The lips of the righteous • A righteous person’s mouth is connected to a heart aligned with God (Luke 6:45). • Earlier in the chapter we read, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11). • When God rules the heart, speech naturally blesses others, echoing Paul’s call: “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up” (Ephesians 4:29). • Righteous lips also speak truth, mirroring the King’s delight in “righteous lips” (Proverbs 16:13). Feed many • “Feed” pictures nourishing souls much like bread sustains bodies—“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). • Spiritual feeding happens through: – Encouragement (Proverbs 12:25). – Correction done in love (Proverbs 27:6). – Teaching the Scriptures so “the word of Christ may dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). • Jesus told Peter, “Feed My lambs” (John 21:15). Righteous lips join that same mission. But fools die • The proverb pivots abruptly: where wise speech gives life, foolishness courts death. • “A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul” (Proverbs 18:7). • Spiritual death is the endpoint of unrepentant folly, reflecting Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” For lack of judgment • Judgment here refers to discernment—the ability to choose God’s way (Proverbs 1:7). • Fools ignore counsel (Proverbs 12:15) and resist correction (Proverbs 15:32). • Without sound judgment they wander into moral and eternal disaster, fulfilling the warning, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Putting it into practice • Store up Scripture so your mouth overflows with life (Psalm 119:11). • Weigh every word: Will it edify or erode? (Colossians 4:6). • Seek godly counsel to sharpen discernment (Proverbs 13:20). • Aim for speech that reflects Christ’s grace and truth, becoming a conduit of daily bread to “many.” summary Proverbs 10:21 delivers a clear choice. Righteous lips, saturated with God’s Word, become spiritual bread for a hungry world. Foolish lips, empty of discernment, lead their owners to ruin. Choose the path of wisdom: fill your heart with truth, let your speech nourish others, and watch God use your words to spread life. |
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