Proverbs 13 2

Proverbs 13:2 kjv

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Proverbs 13:2 nkjv

A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

Proverbs 13:2 niv

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

Proverbs 13:2 esv

From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Proverbs 13:2 nlt

Wise words will win you a good meal,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

Proverbs 13 verses

Proverbs 13 2 Meaning

Proverbs 13:2 illustrates the principle of consequential living, drawing a clear distinction between the outcomes of those who speak and act righteously and those who are inherently treacherous. The righteous person benefits from the positive fruits of their upright words and communication, leading to favorable circumstances and a good life. In sharp contrast, the inner being or soul of the faithless and deceitful individual finds sustenance in acts of injustice and violence, which ultimately leads to their ruin or negative consequences.

Proverbs 13 2 Context

Proverbs chapter 13, like much of the book, operates within the broader context of biblical wisdom literature, specifically contrasting wisdom with folly, righteousness with wickedness. It presents a series of practical, pithy observations and instructions for living a life pleasing to God and beneficial to oneself and others. The chapter frequently juxtaposes the characteristics and outcomes of the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked, underscoring that choices and character inevitably lead to distinct consequences. Proverbs 13:2 fits this pattern by directly linking speech and the internal disposition of the heart to a person's life experience. Culturally, in ancient Israel, the spoken word carried significant weight, seen not merely as sound but as having the power to establish covenants, impart blessings, and unleash curses, making the "fruit of the mouth" a potent metaphor for one's actions and life outcomes stemming from their core being.

Proverbs 13 2 Word analysis

• From the fruit of his mouth: (Hebrew: mi-peri pîw - מִפְּרִי פִּיו).
  • Fruit (peri): Signifies produce, offspring, outcome, or result. It's an agricultural metaphor indicating what grows from an origin. Here, it's the natural consequence or harvest of one's speech and character.
  • Mouth (peh): Represents not just physical utterances but also the source of thought, intention, and the conduit through which a person expresses their inner being. Speech reveals character and intentions.
  • This phrase collectively means the beneficial results or consequences that flow from a person's words, advice, and way of speaking, revealing their character.
• a man eats good: (Hebrew: îš yōḵal ṭôḇ - אִישׁ יֹאכַל טוֹב).
  • Eats (yochal): To consume, devour. Metaphorically, to benefit from, experience, or appropriate something into oneself. It implies deep internalization and enjoyment of the consequence.
  • Good (ṭôḇ): Refers to something pleasant, desirable, beneficial, prosperous, excellent, and morally right. It signifies a life of well-being, success, and contentment stemming from righteous conduct.
  • This signifies that the person who speaks rightly and lives righteously will genuinely benefit from their actions, experiencing positive outcomes and true prosperity in life.
• but the soul of the faithless: (Hebrew: wᵉ-nep̄eš bôgᵉḏîm - וְנֶפֶשׁ בּוֹגְדִים).
  • Soul (nep̄eš): Represents the inner being, self, life-force, personality, or essence of a person. It points to the core desire and character of the individual.
  • Faithless (bôgᵉḏîm): From the root bagad, meaning to deal treacherously, perfidiously, deceitfully, or unfaithfully. These are individuals who betray trust, act dishonestly, or are morally corrupt. This isn't just a surface behavior, but an ingrained disposition.
  • This phrase refers to the deepest inclination and nature of those who are fundamentally disloyal to God and righteousness, driven by deceitful motives.
• feeds on violence: (Hebrew: təḇala‘ ḥāmās - תִּבְלַע חָמָס).
  • Feeds on (təḇala‘): Literally "swallows," "devours," or "ingests." This strong verb indicates a deep, eager absorption, an internal sustenance. It implies that violence is not just something they do, but something they relish, consume, and are nourished by at their core.
  • Violence (ḥāmās): Denotes violence, wrongdoing, injustice, cruelty, and unrighteousness. It is often a forceful, oppressive, or destructive action stemming from evil intent.
  • This conveys that the very essence of the treacherous person is sustained by and consumed with aggression, injustice, and oppression, which defines their inner character and manifests in destructive behavior, ultimately bringing destructive consequences upon themselves.

Proverbs 13 2 Bonus section

This proverb highlights that what we "feed" our inner person profoundly shapes our outward actions and determines our ultimate destiny. For the faithful, their nourishment comes from truth and righteousness, resulting in blessing. For the faithless, their inner appetite is for injustice and harm, leading to an eventual consumption by the very destructive forces they embrace. It's a testament to the inescapable spiritual law that one reaps what they sow, not just externally but also internally, in the very disposition of their soul. The imagery of eating or feeding underscores that character is built by what is habitually consumed, whether it be wisdom or wickedness.

Proverbs 13 2 Commentary

Proverbs 13:2 presents a vivid contrast demonstrating the principle of intrinsic and retributive justice within God's moral order. It powerfully illustrates that a person's words and their inner disposition dictate the course of their life. The first part, "From the fruit of his mouth a man eats good," underscores the power of speech and upright character. Righteous communication, which flows from a pure heart, cultivates positive outcomes. This is not merely about saying nice words, but about speech that is truthful, edifying, and aligned with wisdom and righteousness. Such a person reaps the "good"—prosperity, peace, reputation, and contentment—as a natural consequence, consuming it as one would healthy food.

Conversely, "but the soul of the faithless feeds on violence," reveals the destructive nature of the wicked. The term "faithless" (bôgᵉḏîm) implies treachery, deceit, and betrayal, marking an individual whose character is fundamentally corrupt. Their "soul," or inner being, "devours" violence (ḥāmās). This implies more than just committing violent acts; it suggests a deep-seated craving for injustice and oppression that internally nourishes them. They revel in destructive deeds, and in consuming violence, they become consumed by it, eventually facing their own ruin. The verse thus teaches that our words and the inclinations of our hearts have profound, tangible consequences, determining whether we harvest good or are consumed by harm.