Proverbs 15:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 15:4

Note, 1. A good tongue is healing, healing to wounded consciences by comforting them, to sin-sick souls by convincing them, to peace and love when it is broken by accommodating differences, compromising matters in variance, and reconciling parties at variance; this is the healing of the tongue, which is a tree of life, the leaves of which have a sanative virtue, Rev. 22:2. He that knows how to discourse will make the place he lives in a paradise. 2. An evil tongue is wounding (perverseness,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life ,.... A tongue that delivers out salutary instructions, wholesome advice and counsel; a "healing tongue" F23 מרפא "sanans", so some in Vatablus. , as it may be rendered, which pacifies contending parties, and heals the divisions between them; to have the benefit of such a man's company and conversation is like being in paradise. Such is the tongue of a Gospel minister, which delivers out the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ; sound speech... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life - Here again is an allusion to the paradisiacal tree, חיים עץ ets chaiyim , "the tree of lives." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 15:1-7

Virtues and vices of the tongue I. MILDNESS AND VIOLENCE . ( Proverbs 15:1 .) The soft answer is like the water which quenches, and the bitter retort, the "grievous words," like the oil which increases the conflagration of wrath. As scriptural examples of the former, may be mentioned Jacob with Esau ( Genesis 32:1-32 , Genesis 33:1-20 ), Aaron with Moses (Le Proverbs 10:16-20 ), the Reubenites with their brethren ( Joshua 22:15-34 ), Gideon with the men of Ephraim ( 8:1-3 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; a tongue that brings healing, that soothes by its words. Septuagint, "the healing of the tongue." But the Vulgate rendering is better, lingua placabilis, "the gentle, mild tongue" (see on Proverbs 14:30 ). Speech from such a source refreshes and vivifies all who come under its influence, like the wholesome fruit of a prolific tree (comp. Proverbs 3:18 ; Proverbs 11:30 ). ψυχῆς νοσούσης ἐστὶ φάρμακον λόγος "The sick soul by a healing... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 15:2-4

Proverbs 15:2-4. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright Expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully; taking due care both what, and when, and to whom, and in what manner he speaks; but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness Plentifully, continually, promiscuously, and vehemently, as a fountain doth waters, as the word יביע signifies. A wholesome tongue Which utters sound and useful counsels; is a tree of life Is very useful to preserve the present life, and to promote... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 15:1-33

Bringing joy to others (15:1-33)Words can easily cheer others or enrage them, help them or hinder them. Therefore, people should think carefully about what they say (15:1-5). In addition to being wise in their speech, they must be honest in the way they earn their income (6-7). In fact, they must be upright in all aspects of their daily lives. Only then will God, from whom nothing can be hidden, accept their sacrifices and prayers (8-11). Another matter concerning habits of speech is that those... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue = Gentleness of tongue. tree of life. See Genesis 2:9 ; Genesis 3:22 , Genesis 3:24 . Compare Proverbs 3:18 . Ezekiel 27:12 .Revelation 22:2 , and notes there. spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 15:4

"A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.""Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit."[1] "The tongue is a prolific tree, and it concerns the whole community that it should be a tree of life and not of death."[2] read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 15:4

Proverbs 15:4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life— A wholesome tongue, or a tongue which heals, or the health of the tongue, is a tree of life, but when it is perverse it breaks the spirit; or, the perversity, the corruption of the tongue, is the death of the spirit. A tongue which instructs, which consoles, which pacifies, in a word, a tongue which brings health to the spirit and the heart, is truly a tree of life. But a corrupted, lying, abusive, perverse tongue brings death to the soul;... read more

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