Translation commentary on Proverbs 18:20

“From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied”: This saying is difficult to understand and is open to many interpretations. The Hebrew says literally “From the fruit of a man’s mouth his belly is satisfied.” “From the fruit of his mouth” is used in 12.14 in the form “From the fruit of his words.” See also 13.2. In those sayings “the fruit of his mouth” represents the words a person speaks, his speech. However, this verse is different in that the word “belly” is introduced. “A man’s belly” may refer to the place in the body where the food goes after being swallowed or to a person’s essential nature or inner self. “Satisfied” renders the same word as used in 12.11, where it is translated “will have plenty” and means to satisfy hunger either literally or figuratively. In 1.31 it is rendered “be sated” and means people suffer the consequences of their deeds, and it is in this latter sense that Good News Translation understands the word here.

Revised Standard Version does not mention the word “belly” in its rendering; however, New Revised Standard Version says “. . . one’s stomach is satisfied.” Understood in this way “fruit” in the first line refers to food and the satisfaction is felt in the stomach. The first line is thus seen as contrasting with the second. However, it is also possible to view the two lines as parallel, in which case the second line echoes the thought expressed in the first, and “the fruit of his mouth” refers to a person’s words or speech.

“He is satisfied by the yield of his lips”: “Satisfied” repeats the same Hebrew verb used in line 1. “The yield of his lips” is again taken as “his words” or “whatever he says.” If we take “the fruit of his mouth” and “the yield of his lips” as parallel expressions with the same meaning, then line 2 echoes completely the first line. Note that Good News Translation has, therefore, combined the two lines into one. We may render the two lines, for example, “A person’s speech will leave him satisfied and what he says will affect his life.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 18:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 18:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person is delivered/saved/given health by his mouth (words)
    and what he says brings life.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “By the fruit of the mouth
    people’s stomachs are filled.
    People are satisfied by words
    that come out of the mouth.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You will-harvest the fruit of what you are-saying.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A person harvests all that his words produce (verb form of fruit).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People are happy when they hear others say something that is good,
    like they are happy when they eat food that is good.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 18:20

18:20

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

20a
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled ;

20b
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

Both lines have complex figures of speech: “fruit of his mouth” and “harvest from his lips.” These figures of speech represent the consequences of a person’s words. These consequences could be good or bad, depending on what a person says. But in this context, they probably refer to good consequences.

See the notes on 12:14a and 13:2a. The identical phrase “fruit of his mouth” occurs in both these verses. Both verses also refer to the benefits that a person receives from the good things that he says. In addition, the concept of being satisfied usually has a good connotation.

18:20a–b

fruit…harvest: In this context, the words fruit and harvest are both figures of speech (metonymy). They represent good consequences or results. In some languages, it may be possible to keep at least one of these figures of speech. In other languages, it will be clearer to use words such as “benefits” or “rewards.” These words express the meaning directly.

a man’s belly is filled…he is satisfied: The word that the Berean Standard Bible and most versions translate as belly can refer literally to a person’s stomach. They can also refer figuratively to a person’s inner being. The parallel words filled and satisfied are the same word in Hebrew. Depending on the context, this word can also be understood literally or figuratively.

There are two reasons why a figurative meaning is probably intended here:

(a) The other parallel parts in this verse have figurative meanings.

(b) The similar phrase “eat its fruit” in 18:21 clearly has a figurative meaning.

Some ways to translate these parallel lines are:

• Use one or more figures of speech. For example:

20a Wise words satisfy like a good meal ; 20b the right words bring satisfaction. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

20a People will be rewarded for what they say; 20b they will be rewarded by how they speak. (New Century Version)

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