Proverbs 18 · Verse 21

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:21, King James Version

Proverbs 18:21 in other translations

BSBLife and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
WEBDeath and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
ASVDeath and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
YLTDeath and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
DARBYDeath and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
BBEDeath and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.
WebsterDeath and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.

What does Proverbs 18:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Death 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious tongue.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 18:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מָ֣וֶתMa.vetdeathH4194
וְ֭חַיִּיםVe.chai.yimand lifeH2416
בְּיַד\־be.yad-[are] in [the] hand ofH3027
לָשׁ֑וֹןla.Shon[the] tongueH3956
וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָve.'o.ha.Vei.haand [those who] love itH157
יֹאכַ֥לyo.Khalhe will eatH398
פִּרְיָֽהּ\׃pir.Yahfruit itsH6529

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 18:21

  • Ephesians 4:29

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  • Matthew 12:35-37

    A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

  • Colossians 4:6

    Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

  • Proverbs 10:19-21

    In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

  • James 3:6-9

    And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

  • Proverbs 13:2-3

    A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • Proverbs 10:31

    The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

  • Proverbs 18:4-7

    The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:12-14

    The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

  • Proverbs 12:13

    The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

  • Isaiah 57:19

    I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

  • Proverbs 11:30

    The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Death.
4-7; 10:20,21,31; 11:30; Mt 12:35-37; Ro 10:14,15; 2Co 2:16; 11:15
Eph 4:29; Col 4:6; Tit 1:10,11; Jas 3:6-9; 2Pe 2:18
and.
10:19; Ec 10:12-14; Isa 57:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 18:20

    A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

  • Proverbs 18:21

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

  • Proverbs 18:22

    Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

Read all of Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La muerte y la vida están en poder de la lengua; y el que la ama comerá de sus frutos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La mort et la vie sont au pouvoir de la langue, et celui qui l’aime mangera de son fruit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Tod und Leben sind in der Gewalt der Zunge, und wer sie liebt, wird ihre Frucht essen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Mors et vita in manu linguæ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.