Pro 18:21 | KingComments | STEP | The good, edifying words we speak with our “mouth” and our “lips” give inner (“his stomach”) satisfaction ( ). They are like seeds of good fruit that produce a satisfying yield or harvest. This saying is an incentive to take as much care of the words we speak as we do of the fruit of the trees we eat from. If we eat healthy fruit, we will remain healthy; if we eat unhealthy fruit, we will become sick. If our words are careful, God-fearing and good, “in grace ... seasoned with salt” ( ), to serve others with them, it will satiate ourselves. It gives satisfaction and a good conscience. “His stomach” we can also apply to the conscience. To satiate the stomach, that is, to keep a good conscience, we must pay attention to what we say. Apart from immediate satiation, there is also a later yield or harvest. Also, when we see the “yield” of our wise, prudent, God-fearing words, that is, what effect they have, it gives deep satisfaction. They can be words we speak when we give advice, but also answers to questions we are asked. again clearly suggests what the effect of our words can be. What kind of words are we sowing: for death or for life? That question is especially important for “those who love it”, that is, those who love “the tongue”. This is a wrong love, namely one who enjoys talking. He will eat the fruit of what he says. What he says will return to him. The fool sows words that bring death and destruction; the wise sows words that bring life. False teachers sow words with a seed of death and destruction; the ambassadors for Christ proclaim life.

‏ Proverbs 18:21

The Fruit of Our Words

The good, edifying words we speak with our “mouth” and our “lips” give inner (“his stomach”) satisfaction (Pro 18:20). They are like seeds of good fruit that produce a satisfying yield or harvest. This saying is an incentive to take as much care of the words we speak as we do of the fruit of the trees we eat from. If we eat healthy fruit, we will remain healthy; if we eat unhealthy fruit, we will become sick. If our words are careful, God-fearing and good, “in grace ... seasoned with salt” (Col 4:6), to serve others with them, it will satiate ourselves. It gives satisfaction and a good conscience.

“His stomach” we can also apply to the conscience. To satiate the stomach, that is, to keep a good conscience, we must pay attention to what we say. Apart from immediate satiation, there is also a later yield or harvest. Also, when we see the “yield” of our wise, prudent, God-fearing words, that is, what effect they have, it gives deep satisfaction. They can be words we speak when we give advice, but also answers to questions we are asked.

Pro 18:21 again clearly suggests what the effect of our words can be. What kind of words are we sowing: for death or for life? That question is especially important for “those who love it”, that is, those who love “the tongue”. This is a wrong love, namely one who enjoys talking. He will eat the fruit of what he says. What he says will return to him. The fool sows words that bring death and destruction; the wise sows words that bring life. False teachers sow words with a seed of death and destruction; the ambassadors for Christ proclaim life.