Pro 18:8 | NET2full | STEP | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels , and they have gone down into the person’s innermost being .

‏ Proverbs 18:8

8 The words of a gossip ^{▼▼tn Or “slanderer”; KJV, NAB “talebearer”; ASV, NRSV “whisperer.”} are like choice morsels, ^{▼▼tn The word כְּמִתְלַהֲמִים (kemitlahamim) occurs only here (and 26:22 where the verse is repeated verbatim). It is related to a cognate verb meaning “to swallow greedily,” so here “things swallowed greedily,” meaning food delicacies. Earlier English versions took it from a Hebrew root הָלַם (halam, see the word לְמַהֲלֻמוֹת [lemahalumot] in v. 6) meaning “wounds” (so KJV) or reflexively for the Hitpael as “self-inflicted wounds.” But the translation of “choice morsels” seems to fit the next image of going into the belly better. But that could also show the extent of wounds.}
and they have gone down into the person’s innermost being. ^{▼▼tn Heb “they have gone down [into] the dark/inner chambers of the belly”; NASB “of the body.”} ^{▼▼sn When the choice morsels of gossip are received, they go down like delicious food—into the innermost being; they have been too easily believed. R. N. Whybray says, “There is a flaw in human nature that assures slander will be listened to” (Proverbs [CBC], 105).}