Proverbs 18:20-21 (ESV)
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Solomon compares our words to a harvest. Just as a person enjoys the fruit produced from her labor, she eventually experiences the results of what comes from her mouth. Words are not empty sounds that disappear once spoken. They produce consequences, and the speaker will eventually experience the results of what she has said. A woman who consistently speaks truth and kindness will strengthen her relationships with others.
Jesus taught the same principle when he said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth” (Matthew 15:11). What we say reveals what is already present within our hearts. Our words can build trust or damage it, strengthen relationships or weaken them. Eventually, we live with the results of what we have spoken.
Solomon then raises the stakes. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Our words carry tremendous influence. A destructive tongue can bring harm and deepen conflict, while life giving words can bring encouragement and renewal to those who hear them. The same mouth that can spread harm can also become a means God uses to bring life to others.
Those who love words must also consider what kind of words they are consuming and producing. Just as nourishing food strengthens the body while harmful food weakens it, our words can either strengthen the soul or corrupt it. A woman who continually speaks words of criticism, complaint, or bitterness should not be surprised when those same patterns begin to affect her own heart.
Consider the words you have spoken recently. Have they brought life to the people around you, or have they created unnecessary hurt? We cannot dismiss our words by saying, “I don’t know where that came from,” because Jesus reminds us that our speech reveals what is already within us. It has been said, “You are what you eat,” but Proverbs hints at a greater warning: “You are what you speak.”