Proverbs 12:18-19 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 12:19

Be it observed, to the honour of truth, that sacred thing, 1. That, if truth be spoken, it will hold good, and, whoever may be disobliged by it and angry at it, yet it will keep its ground. Great is the truth and will prevail. What is true will be always true; we may abide by it, and need not fear being disproved and put to shame. 2. That, if truth be denied, yet in time it will transpire. A lying tongue, that puts false colours upon things, is but for a moment. The lie will be disproved. The... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 12:19

The lip of truth shall be established for ever ,.... The man that speaks truth is and will be established in his credit and reputation among men; he is uniform and all of a piece, and what he says is believed; truth, though it may be opposed, will prevail against lies and falsehood; the word of truth, the Gospel of Christ, will stand for ever; the ministers of truth and righteousness will be continued to the end of the world; Christ, who is truth itself, abides the same to day, yesterday,... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 12:19

A lying tongue is but for a moment - Truth stands for ever; because its foundation is indestructible: but falsehood may soon be detected; and, though it gain credit for a while, it had that credit because it was supposed to be truth. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:19

The lip of truth shall be established forever. Truth is consistent, invincible, enduring; and the fact belongs not only to Divine truth ( Psalms 117:2 ; Matthew 24:35 ), but to human, in its measure. Septuagint, "True lips establish testimony," pointing the last word ad as ed . Is but for a moment; literally, while I wink the eye ( Jeremiah 49:19 ; Jeremiah 50:44 ). Lying never answers in the end; it is soon found out and punished ( Proverbs 19:9 ; Psalms 52:5 ).... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 12:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 12:19

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 12:19

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 12:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:12-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:19

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

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