What is the meaning of Proverbs 18:21? Life and death “Life and death are in the power of the tongue …” (Proverbs 18:21) - Scripture treats “life” and “death” as more than mere metaphors; they encompass physical wellbeing (Proverbs 12:18) and spiritual destiny (John 6:63). - Words can breathe life: encouragement, truth, praise, and gospel proclamation (Ephesians 4:29; Romans 10:14). - Words can deal death: deceit, slander, and discouragement that crush spirit and reputation (Proverbs 15:4; James 3:9-10). - Just as Deuteronomy 30:19 sets before Israel the choice of life or death, this proverb reminds believers that daily speech participates in that same moral gravity. are in the power of the tongue - Though a small member, the tongue “boasts great things” and can set “the course of one’s life on fire” (James 3:5-6). - Power here is immediate and far-reaching: • It can turn away wrath or stir it up (Proverbs 15:1). • It can heal relationships or rupture them (Proverbs 16:28; Matthew 5:23-24). • It can confess Christ unto salvation or deny Him to peril (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33). - The proverb affirms that every believer wields real authority with speech, accountable before the God who spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1; Matthew 12:36-37). and those who love it - “Love” implies delighting in talking, recognizing its influence, and choosing to use it often. - People who treasure godly speech cultivate it intentionally (Psalm 19:14; Colossians 4:6). - Conversely, those who relish gossip or careless chatter reveal a heart problem (Luke 6:45; Proverbs 10:19). - The proverb signals that devotion to words—whether wise or foolish—sets a trajectory that cannot be avoided. will eat its fruit - Words are seeds; their harvest returns to the speaker (Proverbs 12:14, “From the fruit of his mouth a man is filled with good”). - Positive fruit: • Peaceful relationships (Proverbs 16:24). • Moral credibility and answered prayer (1 Peter 3:10-12). • Eternal reward as faithful witnesses (Daniel 12:3). - Negative fruit: • Broken trust, isolation (Proverbs 25:18-19). • Divine discipline (Acts 5:3-5). • Potential eternal separation for persistent unbelief and blasphemy (Revelation 21:8). - “Eating” underscores inevitability; no one escapes the consequences of his own words (Galatians 6:7-8). summary Proverbs 18:21 teaches that speech is never neutral. Every word spoken participates in the realm of life or death, wielding genuine power to build up or tear down. Those who embrace this truth—loving the tongue enough to govern it by God’s Word—will reap a harvest of blessing, while careless speakers will taste bitter fruit. The passage calls believers to steward their words with reverence, aligning them with the life-giving character and purposes of the Lord. |
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