proverbs-18:21

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Proverbs 18:17-24

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Whoso... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:21

Love it, and speak well or ill, shall receive accordingly, Matthew xii. 37. read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Proverbs 18:21

v. 21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, that is, the one or the other will be the fate of man, in agreement with the manner in which he used his tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof, experiencing in themselves the effects of its good use and of its abuse. read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Proverbs 18:1-24

γ) Admonition to affability, fidelity in friendship, and the other virtues of social lifeChap. 181 He that separateth himself seeketh his own pleasure;against all counsel doth he rush on.2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,but that his heart may reveal itself.3 When wickedness cometh then cometh contempt,and with shameful deeds reproach.4 Deep waters are the words of man’s mouth;the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.5 To have regard to the wicked is not good,(nor)... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 18:1-24

Verse Proverbs 18:1. The protest of this proverb is against the self-satisfaction which makes a man separate himself from the thoughts and opinions of others. Such a one finally "rages against," or "quarrels with all sound wisdom." Verse Proverbs 18:9. This plainly teaches that there can be no middle course between construction and destruction. Every man is contributing something to the commonwealth, or is a wastrel. Verses Proverbs 18:10-11. Each of these verses taken separately constitutes... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:1-24

Proverbs Of Solomon Part 2 (Proverbs 15:22 to Proverbs 22:16 ). At this point there is a sudden switch from proverbs which contrast one thing with another, which have been predominant since Proverbs 10:1, to proverbs where the second clause adds something to the first. Whilst we still find some contrasting proverbs, especially at the beginning, they are not so common. This may suggest a deliberate intention by Solomon to separate his proverbs into two parts. Furthermore such a change at this... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:14-21

The Tongue Affects Man In Many Ways, Making Him Strong And Wise, And Giving Him Life, Or Causing Him Great Grief, Finally Resulting In Death (Proverbs 18:14-21 ). In this subsection we have an emphasis on the different ways in which the tongue, both our own and the tongues of others, can affect our lives. They can make us strong (Proverbs 18:14; Proverbs 18:20-21) and produce harmony and abundant life, or they can bring us down, and finally destroy us. Thus the ear of the wise hears words... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:1-24

Proverbs 18:1 . MT yields no satisfactory sense. The LXX reads “ The man who wishes to separate from his friends seeks pretexts, but is always liable to reproach.” Frankenberg renders “ the alienated friend seeks an occasion (emending the word for ‘ desire’ ), seeks by all means to stir up strife.” Proverbs 18:4 . RV translates correctly, but the sense is strange. Read, perhaps, “ The words of the wise are deep waters, a flowing brook, a fountain of life,” but this is conjecture rather than... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 18:21

Are in the power of the tongue; are brought upon men by the good or bad use of their tongues. That love it; either, 1. The tongue; that love and use much talking, which is oft censured as a sin, and a cause of mischief. See Proverbs 10:19; James 1:19. Or, 2. The use of their tongue in either of those ways, which are plainly supposed in the former clause of the verse: they who do not only speak well, which a wicked man may sometimes do; or speak ill, which a good man may possibly do; but do... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Proverbs 18:20-21

CRITICAL NOTES.—Proverbs 18:20. Satisfied. “If this word is taken in a good sense the fruit must be good; but it may be ironical, meaning false or malignant words will find ample retribution. Perhaps the next verse helps us to determine the meaning” (Stuart). Proverbs 18:21. They that love it, i.e., “make it a special object of gratification” (Stuart). MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:20-21THE POWER OF THE LITTLE MEMBERSolomon again and again reverts to the mighty influences for good and evil... read more