Proverbs 18:7-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 18:6-7

Solomon has often shown what mischief bad men do to others with their ungoverned tongues; here he shows what mischief they do to themselves. 1. They embroil themselves in quarrels: A fool's lips, without any cause or call, enter into contention, by advancing foolish notions which others find themselves obliged to oppose, and so a quarrel is begun, or by giving provoking language, which will be resented, and satisfaction demanded, or by setting men at defiance, and bidding them do if they dare.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 18:8

Tale-bearers are those who secretly carry stories from house to house, which perhaps have some truth in them, but are secrets not fit to be told, or are basely misrepresented, and false colours put upon them, and are all told with design to blast men's reputation, to break their friendship, to make mischief between relations and neighbours, and set them at variance. Now the words of such are here said to be, 1. Like as when men are wounded (so the margin reads it); they pretend to be very much... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:7

A fool's mouth is his destruction ,.... The cause of it; for his contentions, and quarrels, and evil speaking, lawsuits are commenced against him, which bring ruin upon himself and his family now; as well as for his idle and wicked words he will be condemned hereafter, Matthew 12:35 ; there is a world of iniquity in the mouth and tongue of a wicked man, which bring destruction upon himself and others, James 3:6 ; and his lips are the snare of his soul ; from speaking in his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:8

The words of a talebearer are as wounds ,.... Or rather they are wounds; they wound the credit and reputation of the person of whom the tale is told; they wound the person to whom it is told, and destroy his love and affection to his friend; and in the issue they wound, hurt, and ruin the talebearer himself. Or, they are "as of those that are wounded" F13 כמתלהמים "similia sunt verbis eorum, qui saepenumero contusi sunt", Junius & Tremellius; "ut contusorum", Cocceius. ; they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:8

The words of a tale-bearer - נרגן דברי dibrey nirgan , "the words of the whisperer," the busy-body, the busy, meddling croaker. Verba bilinguis , "the words of the double-tongued." - Vulgate. The wordes of the twisel tunge - Old MS. Bible. "The words of a slanderer." - Coverdale. The words of a deceiver, the fair-spoken, deeply-malicious man, though they appear soft and gracious, are wounds deeply injurious. The original word is כמתלהמים kemithlahamim ; they are as soft or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:1-9

Unsocial vices There is an inner connection between them all. I. MISANTHROPY . ( Proverbs 18:1 .) If this verse be more correctly rendered, this is the meaning yielded. From a diseased feeling the man turns aside to sullen solitude, and thus rejects wisdom. This affords a fine meaning. It is one thing to feel the need of occasional solitude, another to indulge the passion for singularity. II. OBTRUSIVENESS . ( Proverbs 18:2 .) Contrast Proverbs 18:4 . The talkative fool... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:7

The results of the fool's disposition and actions are further noted. A fool's mouth is his destruction (comp. Proverbs 10:15 ; Proverbs 13:9 ; Ecclesiastes 10:12 ). A mediaeval adage pronounces, "Ex lingua stulta veniunt incommoda multa." His lips are the snare of his soul; bring his life into danger (see on Proverbs 12:13 ; comp. Proverbs 13:14 ; Proverbs 14:27 ; Proverbs 17:28 ). So St. Luke ( Luke 21:35 ) speaks of the last day, coming upon men like "a snare ( παγίς ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:8

The words of a tale bearer are as wounds. Nergan , "tale bearer," is better rendered "whisperer" (see on Proverbs 16:28 ). The Authorized Version reminds one of the mediaeval jingle— "Lingua susurronis Est pejor felle draconis." The verse recurs in Proverbs 26:22 ; but the word rendered "wounds" ( mitlahamim ) is to be differently explained. It is probably the hithp. participle of laham, " to swallow," and seems to mean "dainty morsels," such as one eagerly swallows. Thus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:8

(See homily on Proverbs 17:9 .)—C. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 18:8-9

Proverbs 18:8-9. The words of a tale-bearer Who privily slanders his neighbour; are as wounds Deeply wound the reputation, and afterward the heart, of the slandered person. They go down, &c. They wound mortally, piercing to the heart, which is often meant by the belly. He also that is slothful is brother, &c. They are alike: though they take different paths, yet both come to one end, even to extreme want and poverty. read more

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