Proverbs 12:18 - Exposition

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 wounds, a word the soul."

Vulgate, est qui promittit, which restricts the scope of the clause to the making of vain promises (Le Proverbs 5:4 ; Numbers 30:7-9 ), continuing, et quasi gladio pungitur conscientiae, "And is pierced as it were by the sword of his conscience." where "conscience" is added to make the meaning plain. Such a man suffers remorse if he breaks his promise, or if, like Jephthah, he keeps it. The tongue of the wise is health; it does not pierce and wound like that of the chatterer, rather it soothes and heals even when it reproves ( Proverbs 4:22 ; Proverbs 10:11 ).