Translation commentary on Proverbs 18:21

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue”: This line is literally “Death and life [are] in the hand of the tongue,” where “hand” is an image or idiom representing power. This line repeats the idea expressed in verse 20, that is, the consequences of what a person says may mean the death or life of someone. In English the natural order for the opening words is “life and death”; so New International Version and Revised English Bible express this line as “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

“And those who love it will eat its fruits”: “Those who love it” refers to people who love to talk or express their opinions. “Will eat its fruits” means “will pay the price of their much talking,” “will be faced with the consequences of what they say.” It is not stated whether this will be good or bad, but it is probably a warning that it will be bad. For a model translation see Good News Translation.

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 18:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 18:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “(The) mouth of a person can deliver/save or destroy people.
    So, one should/must guard his mouth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The word of the mouth
    decides between life and death.
    So they will have to reap the fruit
    of their own words.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “What you (sing.) are-saying can-save life or can-kill. Therefore if you (sing.) talk-too-much, [you (sing.)] watch-out for you (sing.) will-harvest the fruit of what you (sing.) are-saying.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Words have-capability to be the cause-of-life or cause-of-death, therefore the one who loves to speak, it is necessary that he accept whatever his words produce (verb form of fruit).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to continue to live;
    so those who like to talk a lot must accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm.” (Source: Translation for Translators)