Proverbs 18:4 kjv

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Proverbs 18:4 nkjv

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Proverbs 18:4 niv

The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

Proverbs 18:4 esv

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 18:4 nlt

Wise words are like deep waters;
wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 18 verses

Proverbs 18 4 Meaning

The words spoken by a person can be like "deep waters," implying that they hold profound, complex, or even hidden meanings, or that they are difficult to fully grasp, much like the unfathomable depths of a vast body of water. In contrast, "the fountain of wisdom" is depicted as a "bubbling brook." This signifies that true wisdom, often implicitly divine, is clear, refreshing, accessible, and freely flowing, providing understanding and vitality rather than obscurity. The verse suggests a contrast between human speech which can be complex and obscure, and wisdom which makes things clear and life-giving.

Proverbs 18 4 Context

Proverbs 18 is a collection of diverse wisdom sayings primarily focusing on the consequences of different kinds of behavior, particularly concerning speech, friendships, pride, humility, and seeking understanding. The chapter highlights the importance of discerning wisdom, avoiding foolishness, and the profound impact of one's words. Verse 4 fits within this emphasis on communication, contrasting the inherent complexity or potential obscurity of human pronouncements with the clarity and accessibility of divine wisdom. Historically, such proverbs provided practical ethical guidance for daily living within ancient Israelite society, drawing on observations of human nature and God's order. They functioned as concise principles taught to guide individuals toward a life pleasing to God and beneficial to their community.

Proverbs 18 4 Word analysis

• The words of a man's mouth (דִּבְרֵי־פִי־אִישׁ - divrê pî-ʼîsh):

  • דִּבְרֵי (divrê): Plural form of "word," often refers to matters, things, or declarations. Here, it signifies the spoken content, expressions, counsel, or insights coming from an individual.
  • פִי (pî): "mouth," emphasizing the origin of the words as human speech.
  • אִישׁ (ʼîsh): "man" or "person," indicating general human capacity.
  • Significance: This phrase points to human utterances, thoughts, or counsel which can be profound or intricate. It implies that what comes from a human heart and mind, when expressed, might contain significant depth that is not immediately apparent, or it might be complex and hard to fully fathom without true understanding.

• are deep waters (מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים - mayim ʻămuqqîm):

  • מַיִם (mayim): "water," often used metaphorically for something abundant, life-giving, but also potentially overwhelming or mysterious.
  • עֲמֻקִּים (ʻămuqqîm): "deep," implying profoundness, mystery, hiddenness, or something difficult to reach or comprehend fully.
  • Significance: The metaphor suggests that human words can be profound, holding layers of meaning not easily discovered. They might be obscure, unfathomable, or even concealing, like waters whose depths hide what lies beneath. This highlights the challenge in truly discerning human wisdom or counsel without an external aid.

• the fountain of wisdom (מְקוֹר חָכְמָה - mĕqōr ḥoḵmâ):

  • מְקוֹר (mĕqōr): "fountain," "spring," "source." A continuous and often pure source.
  • חָכְמָה (ḥoḵmâ): "wisdom," not merely intellectual knowledge but practical skill, prudence, and moral discernment, especially as it relates to living rightly before God.
  • Significance: This denotes the wellspring or origin point of true wisdom. In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is frequently personified and often linked directly to God (Prov 2:6, "For the LORD gives wisdom"). Therefore, this points to divinely revealed and empowered insight.

• is a bubbling brook (נַחַל נוֹבֵעַ - naḥal nôvēaʿ):

  • נַחַל (naḥal): "brook," "stream," "wadi" (often seasonal in arid regions, but here implying consistent flow).
  • נוֹבֵעַ (nôvēaʿ): "bubbling," "gushing," "flowing forth continuously." Implies something dynamic, active, and accessible.
  • Significance: The metaphor conveys clarity, refreshing qualities, constant availability, and easy access. Unlike stagnant or deep, obscure waters, a bubbling brook is inviting, clear, and provides immediate sustenance. This suggests that divine wisdom makes the obscure plain, transforming deep, hard-to-access truths into clear, life-giving insights.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The words of a man's mouth are deep waters" vs. "the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook": This is a parallelism of antithetical comparison. The first clause describes human utterance as potentially complex, enigmatic, or hidden. The second clause presents divine wisdom as clear, accessible, and life-giving. The contrast indicates that while human thought can be difficult to penetrate, true wisdom (originating from a pure source) clarifies understanding, making the profound accessible and transforming hidden meanings into clear insights. It highlights the indispensable role of wisdom in navigating and comprehending complex ideas.

Proverbs 18 4 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "deep waters" and "bubbling brook" within a single verse is a masterful use of metaphor common in Hebrew poetry. It does not necessarily mean human words are bad but that they possess an inherent complexity or potential for misinterpretation. Wisdom then becomes the essential tool, the key, for unlocking these depths and transforming them into something beneficial and clear. This reinforces the biblical call to actively seek wisdom (Prov 2:1-5) as it is not always immediately apparent in the world, yet when found, it freely flows. The "fountain" imagery for wisdom resonates throughout Scripture, associating divine truth with life-giving sustenance (e.g., Ps 36:9; Jer 2:13), suggesting that wisdom, when embraced, invigorates and sustains the soul, much like clear, running water sustains life.

Proverbs 18 4 Commentary

Proverbs 18:4 offers a profound insight into the nature of human speech and the clarifying power of true wisdom. The first half describes the utterances from a human mouth as "deep waters." This imagery captures the complexity, profundity, and sometimes even the mysterious or obscure nature of human counsel, thought, and discourse. Such words can have hidden meanings, layers of intent, or simply be difficult to fathom completely without proper understanding, much like the unseen depths of a vast sea.

In stark contrast, the "fountain of wisdom" is portrayed as a "bubbling brook." This second metaphor immediately evokes a sense of clarity, purity, and accessibility. A bubbling brook is a constant source of fresh, flowing water, inviting and clear, not hidden or stagnant. This suggests that genuine wisdom—often implying God's wisdom in Proverbs—takes what is deep and unfathomable and makes it clear and discernible. It transforms complexity into clarity and brings life and understanding where there was previously obscurity. Thus, wisdom serves as the conduit through which profound truths are made plain and available for refreshment and nourishment. It implies that with wisdom, one can not only access the profound but also express it in a way that others can readily comprehend and benefit from. For instance, a challenging biblical text, though deep waters to some, becomes a clear stream through the wise teaching of a Spirit-led believer. A person's profound personal struggles, though seemingly inscrutable, gain clarity and resolution when seen through the lens of godly wisdom.