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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 12:18

The tongue is death or life, poison or medicine, as it is used. 1. There are words that are cutting and killing, that are like the piercings of a sword. Opprobrious words grieve the spirits of those to whom they are spoken, and cut them to the heart. Slanders, like a sword, wound the reputation of those of whom they are uttered, and perhaps incurably. Whisperings and evil surmises, like a sword, divide and cut asunder the bounds of love and friendship, and separate those that have been dearest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword ,.... Whose words are like sharp swords, cutting, wounding, dividing, killing; see Psalm 57:4 ; such are the words of false witnesses, who by their false testimonies and perjuries are as guilty of the murder of men as cutthroats; such are the words of slanderers, backbiters, and talebearers, who grieve the innocent, wound their characters, destroy their good name and credit, and separate chief friends; and such are the words of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh - Instead of בוטה boteh , blabbing out, blustering, several MSS. have בוטח boteach , Trusting: and instead of כמדקרות kemadkeroth , As the piercings, seven MSS., with the Complutensian Polyglot, have במדקרות bemadkeroth , In the piercings. "There is that trusteth in the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." But I suppose the former to be the true reading. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:12-22

Virtues and vices in civil life I. SOME VICES OF SOCIETY . 1 . Envious greed. ( Proverbs 12:12 .) The wicked desires the "takings" of the evil. It is a general description of greedy strife and competition, one man trying to forestall another in the bargain, or to profit at the expense of his loss; a mutually destructive process, a grinding of egoistic passions against one another, so that there can be no mutual confidence nor peace ( Isaiah 48:22 ; Isaiah 57:21 ). The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh. The word implies speaking thoughtlessly, rashly; hence we may render, "a babbler," "prater." Such a one inflicts wounds with his senseless tattle. Like the piercings of a sword. The point of the simile is seen when we remember that the edge of the sword is called its "mouth" in the Hebrew ( Genesis 34:26 ; Exodus 17:13 , etc.; comp. Psalms 59:7 ; Psalms 64:3 ). The Greek gnome says— ἀλλ οὐδὲν ἕρπει ψεῦδος εἰς γῆρας χρόνου "A sword the body... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 12:18-19

Proverbs 12:18-19. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword Words that are cutting and killing; opprobrious words, which grieve the spirits of those to whom they are spoken, and cut them to the heart; or slanders, which wound the reputation of those of whom they are uttered, and perhaps incurably; or whisperings and evil surmisings, which divide and cut asunder the bonds of love and friendship, and separate those that have been very dear to each other; but the tongue of the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 12:1-28

Honest speech and honest work (12:1-28)There are further proverbs on attitudes towards criticism (12:1-2; see notes on 9:7-9), the stability of the righteous (3) and the value of a good wife (4). The righteous, besides having good principles, have the courage to speak up at risk to themselves in order to save others (5-7).If people live humbly and in keeping with their financial capacity, they may not achieve high social status, but at least they will remain free of debt. They are wiser than... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 12:18

like the piercings, &c. Illustrations: Saul (1 Samuel 20:30 ; and Proverbs 18:21 . Compare Psalms 57:4 , and Proverbs 16:27 ); Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9-19 ); Jews (John 8:48 ); Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:14 .Hebrews 11:36; Hebrews 11:36 ). piercings = stabs. Occurs only here. tongue. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is spoken by it. is health. Illustrations: Jethro (Exodus 18:17-26 ); Abigail (1 Samuel 25:24-33 ); the woman (2 Samuel 20:16 ); Stephen (Acts 7:59 .... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 12:18

"There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health."Toy's rendition is: "Some men's chatter is like sword-thrusts, but the tongue of the wise is healing."[26] read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 12:18

18. speaketh—literally, "speaketh hastily," or indiscreetly ( :-), as an angry man retorts harsh and provoking invectives. tongue . . . health—by soothing and gentle language. read more

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