Proverbs 18:20 - The Selfishness of the Unfriendly

Audio Bible

Context

The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
…19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle. 20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.…

Cross References

Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”James 3:5-6
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. / The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.Proverbs 12:14
By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.Proverbs 13:2
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.Proverbs 15:23
A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Proverbs 12:13,14
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble…

Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Proverbs 22:18,21
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips…

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Proverbs 18

From the fruit of his mouth
This phrase emphasizes the power and impact of words. In biblical context, words are often seen as seeds that can produce fruit, either good or bad. Proverbs 12:14 and 13:2 also highlight the idea that what one speaks can lead to tangible outcomes. The "fruit" here symbolizes the results or consequences of one's speech. In ancient Israel, fruit was a common metaphor for the results of one's actions, reflecting the agrarian society's reliance on agriculture.

a man’s belly is filled;
The "belly" in this context represents one's innermost being or soul, often associated with satisfaction and contentment. In Hebrew culture, the belly or stomach was sometimes seen as the seat of emotions and desires. This phrase suggests that a person's words can lead to personal fulfillment or emptiness, depending on their nature. The imagery of being "filled" implies abundance and satisfaction, akin to the blessings described in Psalm 23:5.

with the harvest from his lips
The term "harvest" indicates the gathering of results from what has been sown, reinforcing the agricultural metaphor. In biblical times, harvest was a critical period that determined survival and prosperity. This phrase suggests that just as a farmer reaps what he sows, so does a person experience the outcomes of their spoken words. The concept of reaping and sowing is a recurring biblical theme, as seen in Galatians 6:7.

he is satisfied.
Satisfaction here denotes a sense of completeness and fulfillment. In the biblical worldview, true satisfaction comes from aligning one's actions and words with God's wisdom. This satisfaction is not merely physical but also spiritual, reflecting a life lived in accordance with divine principles. The idea of satisfaction through righteous living is echoed in Psalm 37:4, where delighting in the Lord leads to the fulfillment of one's desires.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Solomon
- Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom.

2. Ancient Israel
- The cultural and historical context in which Proverbs was written, emphasizing wisdom and moral teachings.

3. The Wise Man
- A recurring character in Proverbs, representing those who live according to God's wisdom.

4. The Fool
- Another recurring character in Proverbs, representing those who reject wisdom and live foolishly.

5. The Community
- The audience of Proverbs, including individuals and families seeking to live righteously.

Teaching Points

The Power of Words
Words have the power to build up or tear down. As believers, we are called to use our speech to edify and encourage others.

Sowing and Reaping
Just as a farmer reaps what he sows, our words can bring about positive or negative outcomes in our lives and the lives of others.

Accountability for Speech
We are accountable for the words we speak. It is important to be mindful and intentional with our speech, knowing it reflects our heart.

Satisfaction through Righteous Speech
Speaking truth and wisdom leads to a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, as it aligns with God's will and purpose.

Cultivating a Heart of Wisdom
To produce good fruit from our lips, we must cultivate a heart filled with God's wisdom and understanding.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 18When should you search and when should you give up?How does the tongue influence our lives and relationships?Ecclesiastes 4:5-6 appears to favor quietness over hard work--how is this consistent with scriptures that commend diligence (e.g., Proverbs 6:6-8)?What are the sins listed in the Bible?

(20) A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth.--See above on Proverbs 12:14.

Verse 20. - With the first clause, comp, Proverbs 12:14, and with the second, Proverbs 13:2. A man's belly; i.e. himself, his mind and body, equivalent to shall he be filled, or satisfied, in the second clause. A man must accept the consequences of his words, good or evil. The next verse explains this. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

From the fruit
מִפְּרִ֣י (mip·pə·rî)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6529: Fruit

of his mouth
פִי־ (p̄î-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

a man’s
אִ֭ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

belly
בִּטְנ֑וֹ (biṭ·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

is filled;
תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע (tiś·ba‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

with the harvest
תְּבוּאַ֖ת (tə·ḇū·’aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8393: Product, revenue

from his lips
שְׂפָתָ֣יו (śə·p̄ā·ṯāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

he is satisfied.
יִשְׂבָּֽע׃ (yiś·bā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

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Proverbs 18:20 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Proverbs 18:20 A man's stomach is filled (Prov. Pro Pr)