Proverbs 18:20

Proverbs 18:20

ESV: From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

KJV: A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

NIV: From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

NKJV: A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

NLT: Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
the right words bring satisfaction.

Meaning

Proverbs 18:20 conveys the profound principle that one's words have direct and substantial consequences for oneself, akin to consuming the produce of one's own farm. The verse emphasizes that just as a person reaps what they sow in the agricultural sense, so too do they receive the effects, positive or negative, of the words that proceed from their mouth. These words lead to satisfaction or emptiness, joy or sorrow, life or death, impacting the individual's inner well-being and practical experience.

Cross References

Context

Proverbs chapter 18, like much of the book of Proverbs, is a collection of pithy, divinely inspired wisdom sayings designed to guide individuals toward righteous living and practical discernment. The chapter specifically emphasizes the dangers of isolation, the value of wise counsel, the importance of discerning truth, and prominently, the significant impact of one's words. Verses 20 and 21 are particularly a strong couplet, with verse 20 stating the effect of one's words on oneself (satisfaction from what comes from the mouth) and verse 21 dramatically stating the ultimate power of the tongue (death and life). The cultural context is one where oral communication, oaths, and verbal agreements held immense weight and were foundational to social structure and reputation in ancient Israel. Wisdom was often transmitted orally, and the power of blessings and curses spoken by authority figures or even common individuals was deeply respected. This verse thus speaks directly to a society keenly aware of the binding nature and inherent power of the spoken word.

Word analysis

• From the fruit:

  • Hebrew: מִפְּרִי (mipərî). פרי (p'ri) literally means "fruit," "offspring," or "product." Here, it signifies the natural outcome or consequence derived from something. It immediately sets up the metaphor of sowing and reaping, where speech is the seed, and the personal experience is the harvest.
  • Significance: Highlights the organic, inescapable nature of the result. It's not a disconnected punishment but a direct outgrowth.

• of a man's mouth:

  • Hebrew: פִי־אִישׁ (pi-ish). פִי (pi) is the construct form of פֶּה (peh), meaning "mouth." אִישׁ (ish) means "man" or "person."
  • Significance: Refers to the totality of one's verbal output – words, pronouncements, expressions, gossip, wisdom, foolishness. The mouth is the instrument, but it represents the entire inner being (heart, thoughts) that produces the speech.

• his stomach is satisfied:

  • Hebrew: בִּטְנוֹ תִּשְׂבָּע (biṭnōw tiśbāʿ). בִּטְנוֹ (biṭnōw) means "his belly" or "his stomach." תִּשְׂבָּע (tiśbāʿ) is from the root שָׂבַע (śābaʿ), meaning "to be full," "to be satisfied," "to have plenty."
  • Significance: "Stomach" or "belly" in Hebrew can metaphorically refer to the inner being, the deepest part of a person, desires, appetite for life, or even one's well-being and practical needs. It indicates deep, inner gratification or emptiness. The satisfaction isn't just physical food, but the contentment, peace, or unrest that results from one's own speech.

• by the produce:

  • Hebrew: תְּבוּאַת (təḇû'aṯ). תְּבוּאָה (təvu'ah) means "produce," "yield," "income," or "harvest." It reinforces the agricultural metaphor seen in "fruit," underscoring the idea of a harvested result.
  • Significance: A parallel term to "fruit," it reiterates the inevitability of a direct return on one's verbal investment. It emphasizes the result or income derived from the speech.

• of his lips he is satisfied:

  • Hebrew: שְׂפָתָיו יִשְׂבָּע (śəp̄āṯāyw yiśbāʿ). שְׂפָתָיו (śəp̄āṯāyw) means "his lips." יִשְׂבָּע (yiśbāʿ) is the same verb שָׂבַע (śābaʿ) as before, again meaning "he is satisfied."
  • Significance: "Lips" is parallel to "mouth," forming a common poetic parallelism in Hebrew wisdom literature, amplifying the point about verbal expression. The repetition of "he is satisfied" creates emphatic stress on the outcome and certainty of experiencing the consequences of one's words.

• From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the produce of his lips. (Words-group analysis)

  • This is a classical example of synonymous parallelism, common in Proverbs, where the second line echoes and reinforces the first line's meaning using different but related terms.
  • "Fruit" and "produce" both denote consequence and yield.
  • "Mouth" and "lips" both denote verbal expression.
  • "His stomach is satisfied" and "he is satisfied" (the same verb in both cases) underscore the personal experience of the outcome.
  • The structure emphasizes the direct, internal impact of words. One literally "eats" or "ingests" the results of their own speech. This implies self-consumption of words' effects. A man speaks and is, as it were, fed by his own words. If he speaks wise, encouraging, or truthful words, he will experience inner satisfaction, peace, and positive outcomes. If he speaks foolish, destructive, or deceitful words, he will experience inner turmoil, unrest, or negative consequences, essentially consuming a bitter harvest.

Commentary

Proverbs 18:20 serves as a foundational declaration of the intrinsic power and self-impacting nature of human speech. It's not merely that words affect others, but profoundly, they affect the speaker himself. The dual imagery of "fruit" and "produce" vividly portrays that speech is an active planting, yielding an inevitable harvest. Just as a farmer lives off the output of his fields, a person's inner well-being, satisfaction, and life experience are shaped and "fed" by the words they habitually utter. Wise and wholesome words cultivate a fruitful inner life and blessed circumstances, while destructive or idle words breed inner emptiness, conflict, and negative outcomes. The "stomach" represents the innermost being, the seat of one's deepest needs and contentment. Thus, the verse calls for deliberate and wise use of the tongue, reminding us that we literally ingest the spiritual, emotional, and practical "nutrition" (or poison) of our own verbal expressions. This wisdom encourages careful, conscious communication, as it directly impacts personal destiny and well-being.

Bonus section

The agricultural metaphors "fruit" and "produce" (Hebrew: pərî and təvû'āh) link this proverb directly to the broader biblical principle of sowing and reaping (e.g., Gal 6:7-8). This implies that speech is not a neutral act but an action with definite repercussions that one will inevitably "harvest." The satisfaction (Hebrew: śābaʿ) is not always positive; one can be "satisfied" with negative consequences if one has sown bad words, such as being "full" of trouble or regret due to hasty or malicious speech. Conversely, a life lived speaking truth, blessing, and wisdom will lead to a fullness of good. This proverb also connects with the idea of a person's words being a reflection of their heart (Luke 6:45; Matt 15:18). Therefore, true satisfaction comes not merely from uttering "good" words, but from a transformed heart that produces words of life.

Explore proverbs 18 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines