Proverbs 18 · Verse 8

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 18:8, King James Version

Proverbs 18:8 in other translations

BSB	The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
WEB	The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
ASV	The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
YLT	The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.
DARBY	The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
BBE	The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
Webster	The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

What does Proverbs 18:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. (Compare Pr 16:28). as wounds--not sustained by the Hebrew; better, as "sweet morsels," which men gladly swallow. innermost ... belly--the mind, or heart (compare Pr 20:27-30; Psa 22:14).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 The words of a tale-bearer - דברי נרגן dibrey nirgan, "the words of the whisperer," the busy-body, the busy, meddling croaker. Verba bilinguis, "the words of the double-tongued." - Vulgate. The wordes of the twisel tunge - Old MS. Bible. "The words of a slanderer." - Coverdale. The words of a deceiver, the fair-spoken, deeply-malicious man, though they appear soft and gracious, are wounds deeply injurious. The original word is כמתלהמים kemithlahamim; they are as soft or simple, or undesigning. But Schultens gives another meaning. He observes that lahamah in Arabic signifies to "swallow down quickly or greedily." Such words are like dainties, eagerly swallowed, because inviting to the taste; like gingerbread, apparently gilded over, though with Dutch leaf, which is a preparation of copper; or sweetmeats powdered over with red candied seeds, which are thus formed by red lead; both deeply ruinous to the tender bowels of the poor little innocents, but, because of their sweetness and inviting color, greedily swallowed down. This makes a good reading, and agrees with the latter clause of the verse, "they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

How base are those that sow contention! and what fatal effects may be expected from small beginnings of jealousy!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 18:8 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.

דִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.Rei[the] words ofH1697

נִ֭רְגָּןNir.gona slandererH7279

כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑יםke.mit.la.ha.Mim[are] like delicaciesH3859

וְ֝הֵ֗םve.Hemand theyH1992

יָרְד֥וּya.re.Duthey go downH3381

חַדְרֵי\־chad.rei-[the] chambers ofH2315

בָֽטֶן\׃Va.ten[the] bellyH990

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

Cross references for Proverbs 18:8

Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.
Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Proverbs 26:20-22
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Psalms 64:3-4
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Psalms 52:2
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

words.
12:18; 16:28; 26:20-22; Le 19:16; Ps 52:2; 64:3,4
tale-bearer. or, whisperer. as wounds. or, like as whenmen are wounded. innermost parts. Heb. chambers.

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

Context

Proverbs 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 18:8
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 18:9
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Read all of Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Las palabras del chismoso parecen blandas, y descienden hasta lo íntimo del vientre.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Les paroles du rapporteur sont comme des friandises, et elles descendent jusqu’au-dedans des entrailles.
German Elberfelder 1871	Die Worte des Ohrenbläsers sind wie Leckerbissen, und sie dringen hinab in das Innerste des Leibes.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.