Proverbs 15:4 kjv

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4 nkjv

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4 niv

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4 esv

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4 nlt

Gentle words are a tree of life;
a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15 verses

Proverbs 15 4 Meaning

A wholesome tongue brings healing, health, and peace, like a life-sustaining tree. Conversely, corrupt and deceitful speech causes deep damage, akin to a broken spirit or a grievous wound in one's inner being or the spirit of others. This verse emphasizes the profound life-giving or life-destroying power of words.

Proverbs 15 4 Context

Proverbs 15 extensively contrasts wisdom and folly, good and evil, particularly through the lens of speech. The chapter opens by highlighting how a gentle answer can diffuse anger while harsh words escalate it, setting a tone for the transformative power of the tongue. The subsequent verses elaborate on how the righteous communicate wisely, and the wicked speak perversely. Proverbs, as a book of wisdom, repeatedly emphasizes the critical role of spoken words in shaping character, relationships, and destiny within the community. In ancient Israelite society, oral communication was primary, and reputation, social harmony, and personal well-being were profoundly affected by one's words.

Proverbs 15 4 Word analysis

• A wholesome: (Heb. marpēʼ, מַרְפֵּא) Means healing, soothing, tranquil, sound, or refreshing. Signifies words that bring comfort, restoration, or health. It suggests a gentleness and truthfulness that promotes well-being.

• tongue: (Heb. lāšôn, לָשׁוֹן) Refers literally to the organ, but metonymically signifies speech, communication, or what is said. It highlights the direct agent of spoken words.

• is a tree of life: (Heb. ʿēṣ ḥayyîm, עֵץ חַיִּים) A foundational biblical metaphor representing a source of vitality, spiritual nourishment, and eternal well-being. It indicates that healing, truthful speech sustains and invigorates, just as the Tree of Life sustained life in Eden and promises ultimate flourishing in the new creation.

• but: A strong conjunction introducing a contrast, setting the life-giving nature of wholesome speech against the destructive nature of its opposite.

• perverseness: (Heb. sēlep, סֶלֶף) Implies distortion, crookedness, deceit, treachery, or falseness. It refers to speech that is dishonest, misleading, injurious, or contrary to truth and uprightness.

• therein: Refers back to the "tongue," meaning perverseness in the tongue or in one's speech. It directly attributes the negative quality to the instrument of speech itself.

• is a breach: (Heb. šeḇer, שֶׁבֶר) Signifies a breaking, ruin, shattering, or wound. It denotes severe damage, disruption, or destruction. It vividly illustrates the harm caused by corrupt speech.

• in the spirit: (Heb. rûaḥ, רוּחַ) Refers to the inner being, the human disposition, mind, or life breath. This "breach" implies a deep wound or profound discouragement to the inner person, whether it be the speaker's own spirit being corrupted or the listener's spirit being crushed and broken.

• A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: This phrase conveys that communication characterized by integrity, gentleness, and truth produces vitality and sustenance. Such speech heals divisions, brings comfort, and fosters spiritual flourishing for the speaker and listener. It aligns with divine wisdom and builds up life.

• but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit: This stark contrast warns that corrupt, deceptive, or malicious speech causes significant internal damage. It implies a breaking down of internal peace, integrity, or relationships, leading to discouragement, despair, or moral decay in the heart. Such words inflict profound wounds that go beyond mere external injury, striking at the core of a person's being.

Proverbs 15 4 Bonus section

The duality presented in this verse reflects a broader biblical theme, particularly prominent in Proverbs and the New Testament letter of James, concerning the immense power and untamed nature of the tongue. It underscores that speech is not neutral; it either edifies and sustains life or wounds and destroys. The verse highlights the deep connection between one's words and the condition of one's heart, affirming that out of the heart's abundance, the mouth speaks. The "tree of life" metaphor also connects human wisdom, through right speech, to divine order and provision, echoing its symbolic presence from creation to the New Jerusalem as the ultimate source of life and healing.

Proverbs 15 4 Commentary

Proverbs 15:4 encapsulates a central tenet of biblical wisdom: the immense power of words. It teaches that the nature of our speech has profound, life-altering consequences. A tongue dedicated to truth, kindness, and encouragement (a "wholesome tongue") functions like the "tree of life," providing nourishment, healing, and fostering well-being, not only for the one who speaks but also for those who hear. This speech builds up, reconciles, and strengthens the fabric of life. In stark opposition, "perverseness therein"—speech characterized by deceit, malice, distortion, or harshness—acts as a destructive force, causing a "breach in the spirit." This refers to deep internal wounding, a fracturing of peace and integrity within oneself or a crushing of the spirit of another. It reminds believers that true wisdom is not just knowing what is right, but actively speaking what is right, demonstrating discernment in every word to bring life and avoid deep harm. For instance, speaking an encouraging word to someone struggling can bring healing and hope, whereas a cutting remark can devastate their inner peace and trust.