Where The Verse Comes From

Proverbs 18:21 comes from the Hebrew Bible, part of the collection of wisdom literature known as Ketuvim. The verse reads:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (NRSV-CE) 

In the original Hebrew, the verse is:

מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁוֹן וְאֹהֲבֶיהָ יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ

(mavet ve-chayyim b’yad lashon v’ohaveha yokhal pir’yah)

Let’s unpack a few key terms:

• בְּיַד (b’yad) - in the hand of. This is a common Hebrew phrase indicating possession or control. In this context, it suggests that the tongue has an active grasp over outcomes, specifically, life and death. The word yad (יָד) literally means “hand,” which emphasizes the metaphor of control or agency.
• לָשׁוֹן (lashon) - tongue. This term is frequently used in Hebrew Scripture to represent speech, language, or verbal expression (e.g., Proverbs 12:18; Psalm 34:13).
• אֹהֲבֶיהָ (ohaveha) - those who love it. This refers to individuals who cherish or delight in the use of their tongue, whether for good or ill.
• פִּרְיָהּ (pir’yah) - its fruit. The metaphor of “fruit” is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to symbolize the results or consequences of actions, particularly in moral and ethical contexts (cf. Proverbs 11:30; Isaiah 3:10).

The imagery here is layered: the tongue (speech) is likened to a hand that holds life and death, two fundamental realities. Those who “love it,” meaning those who are attentive to how they use their words, will experience the outcomes (the “fruit”) of what they speak.

Scholars such as Bruce K. Waltke argue that Proverbs 18:21 underscores the moral responsibility embedded in human speech. 

Basically, words are not neutral, and fundamentally, they carry the potential to shape reality. In the ancient Israelite worldview, speech was seen as a force that could bless or curse, build up or tear down 

This verse, then, is not merely a poetic flourish of some kind. It reflects a worldview where language is deeply connected to human evolution or destruction. The words we speak matter because they are woven into the fabric of moral cause and effect.

‘Life and Death’: What Does That Mean?

Life and death sounds dramatic, right? But if you take a second to think about it, you’ve seen this play out before. We all have. Someone says something that lifts you up, makes you feel like you matter, like you’re seen, and suddenly, the world looks a little brighter. 

On the flip side, a careless word, a harsh comment, a sharp jab, and boom, your heart sinks. You’re left carrying that weight for days, maybe months or years.

This sounds like modern self-help talk, but it isn’t. The Bible’s been on about this for thousands of years. Proverbs 15:4 mentions:

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (NRSV-CE)

In other words, your words can either plant seeds that grow into something good or they can snap a branch in half. It’s not subtle.

Jesus is the ultimate example of what life-giving words can do. He speaks, and people are healed (Luke 7:7–10). He speaks, and a man who’s been paralyzed gets up and walks (Luke 5:20–24). He even speaks into a tomb and brings Lazarus back to life (John 11:43–44). 

That’s power.

But let’s not skip the warning signs, either. The Bible doesn’t shy away from the dark side of the tongue. James puts it bluntly in his letter:

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire... It stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5–6, NRSV-CE)

That’s the kind of imagery James uses because that’s how destructive words can be. Most of us have seen this at one point or another. A lie that spreads like wildfire. A rumor that destroys someone’s life. A sarcastic comment that tears down a relationship.

Proverbs 18:21 says that those who love the tongue will eat its fruit. Basically, whatever you’re dishing out with your words (good or bad), you’re going to taste it later. What you speak will grow into something, and you’re going to be the one who has to harvest it.

How Our Words Shape the World (And Ourselves)

Here’s where it gets a little uncomfortable, because it’s not just about what our words do to other people. It’s also about what they do to us. Every time we speak, we’re building a pattern, a habit, a mindset that eventually shapes who we are.

If you’re constantly negative (complaining, criticising, gossiping) it’s not just hurting others. It’s shaping you. You start to see the world through a lens of frustration and bitterness. The more you say it, the more you believe it, and the more you act like it.

On the flip side, when you speak kindness, encouragement, and truth, it lifts you up, too. It’s like that old line from Luke 6:45:

“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good... for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” (NRSV-CE)

Your words are a mirror. They show what’s going on inside you. And over time, they start to shape what you become. Speak like someone bitter, and you’ll become bitter. Speak like someone who has hope, and you’ll start to live like it’s true.

And it ripples out beyond the personal, too. Think about leaders, teachers, influencers - their words shape cultures, communities, movements. Good or bad, their words plant seeds. And those seeds grow.

When the Bible Shows Us Both Sides

If you read through the Bible with this lens, it’s wild how often this whole life and death in the tongue perspective shows up. There’s no shortage of stories that show both the good and the bad, the words that build, and the ones that destroy.

Let’s start with the good. Like I’ve mentioned, Jesus’ words literally changed lives. When He told the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 5:20, NRSV-CE), that was a statement that transformed a man’s whole life. 

And when He called out to Lazarus in John 11 - “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43, NRSV-CE) - Lazarus did. A man who had been dead for four days got up and walked out of the tomb. 

But the Bible is also full of cautionary tales about how destructive words can be. Remember the story of the spies in Numbers 13–14? Ten of them came back from Canaan and said, “We can’t do this. The land will swallow us whole.” 

Their fear (and the words they spoke) spread like a virus, and it cost a whole generation their chance to enter the Promised Land. That’s what happens when destructive words take root.

Or think of the Pharisees in the Gospels. They twisted words, they used their positions of authority to manipulate people, and they constantly tried to trap Jesus in His own speech. Their words, often spoken in pride or jealousy, had consequences, not just for them, but for the whole community.

The pattern’s pretty clear: words can heal, or they can harm. They can build up, or they can tear down. The Bible doesn’t let us off the hook, either. It keeps coming back to this idea because it matters.

So, How Do We Get This Right?

Knowing that words have power is one thing, but actually controlling what you say, day in and day out, is a whole different challenge.

“No one can tame the tongue - a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8, NRSV-CE). 

Not exactly encouraging, but the point is, we’re meant to wrestle with this. It’s not about perfection. It’s about awareness, effort. Choosing, moment by moment, to pause before we speak.

What does that look like in real life? Well, first off, pause. It sounds simple, but how often do we do it? Before you fire off that text, leave that comment, or snap back in frustration, take a breath. Ask yourself:

• Is this true?
• Is this helpful?
• Is this necessary?

If it’s not at least two of those, maybe it’s not worth saying.

Second, pay attention to your patterns. Do you tend to complain a lot? Gossip? Speak harshly when you’re stressed? Notice it. You can’t change what you won’t own.

Third, choose to speak life, even when it’s hard. That might mean biting your tongue when you want to criticise. It might mean intentionally encouraging someone who feels invisible. It might mean calling out the good in yourself, even when it feels awkward.

And yeah, you’re going to mess up. We all do. But the goal isn’t a perfect record, it’s building a habit. A way of living where your words create more good than harm.

Because the truth is, you are going to eat the fruit of your words. So why not plant something worth harvesting?

Final Thoughts

So, what have we been talking about here? It’s simple, really: words aren’t just sounds. They’re seeds. They grow into something (good or bad), and we don’t get to opt out of the harvest. 

The Bible makes that clear in Proverbs 18:21 (NRSV-CE): “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”  

Our words shape the people around us. They shape our relationships, our communities, and even the way we see ourselves. They can lift someone up or tear them down. 

If you’re curious to explore more verses like this, to explore what the Bible says about life, faith, and the stuff we wrestle with every day, check out the Bible Chat App. It’s a place where you can ask honest questions and get real, thoughtful answers. 

At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to get a little better at this, so let’s speak with purpose. Let’s plant what we actually want to grow. 

References

The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. (1993). New York: National Council of Churches of Christ.

Waltke, B. K. (2005). The Book of Proverbs: Chapters 15–31. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

McCreesh, T. P. (1990). "Wisdom." In R. E. Brown, J. A. Fitzmyer, & R. E. Murphy (Eds.), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (pp. 447–455). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Clifford, R. J. (1999). Proverbs: A Commentary. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

Source of the images: Midjourney.com