Proverbs 18:7 kjv

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 18:7 nkjv

A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 18:7 niv

The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

Proverbs 18:7 esv

A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 18:7 nlt

The mouths of fools are their ruin;
they trap themselves with their lips.

Proverbs 18 verses

Proverbs 18 7 Meaning

Proverbs 18:7 succinctly declares that a foolish person's speech inevitably leads to their own undoing. The very words that come from their mouth act as instruments of ruin, and their pronouncements become a treacherous trap that ensnares and harms their very essence, their life, or their being. This verse highlights the destructive and self-destructive power of unbridled, unwise, or malevolent speech, specifically characteristic of those who reject wisdom.

Proverbs 18 7 Context

Proverbs 18 is part of the "Proverbs of Solomon," a collection emphasizing practical wisdom for daily life, often contrasting the path of the wise with that of the fool. The chapter immediately preceding this verse (18:6) also addresses the fool's mouth leading to strife and blows. This highlights a pervasive theme throughout Proverbs: the profound impact of speech. Many proverbs within this book repeatedly warn about the dangers of impulsive, malicious, or gossipy words and extol the virtues of thoughtful, gracious, and truthful speech. Historically, the audience would understand these warnings within a communal context where one's reputation and relationships were profoundly shaped by verbal interactions. The culture placed significant value on oral tradition, making the impact of spoken words highly potent. There is an implied polemic against unbridled individualism or the belief that one's words are without real consequence.

Proverbs 18 7 Word analysis

• A fool's (כְסִיל, kesil): This specific Hebrew term for "fool" denotes not merely intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual one. A kesil is someone who stubbornly resists instruction, despises wisdom, and is often arrogant, self-conceited, and confident in their own warped perspective. Their folly is a deliberate choice to ignore God's wisdom, and it deeply influences their speech.
• mouth (פִי, pi): This refers to the physical organ, but here it functions as a metonymy for spoken words, utterances, or discourse. It signifies the primary instrument through which one's inner disposition (wise or foolish) is outwardly expressed and enacted.
• is his (לוֹ, lo): This simple pronoun emphasizes personal ownership and direct causation. The destruction belongs to him; it is self-inflicted, stemming from his own actions.
• destruction (מְחִתָּה, meḥittâ): This word signifies ruin, overthrow, or downfall. It denotes a severe form of breaking or shattering, often implying distress, dismay, or terror. In this context, it describes the profound negative consequences—reputational ruin, relational breakdown, legal trouble, or general personal ruin—that the fool brings upon himself through his speech.
• and his (וּשְׂפָתָיו, uśəp̄āṯāyw): The "and" links the two parts of the proverb, showing synonymous parallelism, where the second phrase reinforces and expands upon the first.
• lips (וּשְׂפָתָיו, uśəp̄āṯāyw): Functioning synonymously with "mouth," "lips" further specifies that the problem is rooted in spoken words. They are the instruments through which speech is formed and released. The repetition emphasizes the centrality of verbal expression.
• are a snare (מוֹקֵשׁ, moqeš): This term refers to a trap, net, or lure, often used for trapping birds or animals. It implies a hidden danger, something that entraps deceptively and often unexpectedly. For the fool, their own words set a trap that catches them, demonstrating a tragic irony of self-entrapment.
• to his soul (נַפְשׁוֹ, nap̄šōw): In Hebrew thought, nephesh (soul) signifies the whole person, their very life, inner being, vitality, and personality. The snare isn't just external harm but deeply impacts the core of who the individual is, potentially leading to existential or even spiritual peril. The fool’s words are not just socially awkward but fatally undermine their own well-being and life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "A fool's mouth is his destruction": This phrase establishes a direct and inescapable consequence. The kesil's utterances are not merely inconvenient; they are the active cause and means of their ruin. This points to the self-inflicted nature of their demise, emanating directly from their internal character expressing itself through speech.
• "and his lips are a snare to his soul": This second, parallel clause reinforces the first while adding depth and intensity. The imagery of a "snare" powerfully conveys entrapment, suggesting that the fool is captured by their own verbal folly. The target of this snare is the "soul" (or nephesh), emphasizing that the harm goes beyond superficial damage to the very essence and life of the person. It signifies a profound, often self-destructive, capture that impairs their very existence.

Proverbs 18 7 Bonus section

This proverb illustrates a fundamental principle woven throughout Scripture: personal responsibility for one's words. It is not external enemies or circumstances alone that destroy the fool, but their own mouth. The concept of kesil is crucial, as it denotes a character that is resistant to change and correction, rather than simply ignorant. Thus, the destructive speech flows from an established pattern of defiance against wisdom. The immediate consequences (social ostracism, damaged reputation, conflict) can lead to deeper, spiritual harm (the ensnaring of the "soul"). The Proverbs' repeated emphasis on speech indicates its foundational role in human flourishing or decay, underscoring that our words carry moral weight and profound, often unforeseen, implications for our entire life journey.

Proverbs 18 7 Commentary

Proverbs 18:7 delivers a potent warning about the destructive force of unbridled and foolish speech. The proverb describes a fatal flaw in the kesil, whose words boomerang back, bringing ruin. This is not simply about careless talk but about speech born of an unteachable, arrogant, and unwise heart. The fool’s pronouncements do not just annoy; they actively demolish their own standing, relationships, and even their core well-being. The "snare" imagery suggests an insidious trap—often unseen in the moment of utterance—that nevertheless inevitably ensnares the speaker. This highlights the principle of sowing and reaping: words, like seeds, bear consequences. For believers, this verse underscores the New Testament emphasis on speech as a reflection of the heart (Matt 12:34) and the need for speech to be gracious and life-giving, rather than destructive (Eph 4:29). Practically, it admonishes against prideful assertions, unfiltered opinions, destructive gossip, and words spoken without seeking wisdom.