The tongue is one of the most important organs of the human body. It dictates what to eat or not. In the spiritual sense also, it determines what happens to us, depending on our confessions and how we use it. Hence, the clause, “life and death are in the power of the tongue.” But the origin and meaning of this popular expression goes beyond that.
In fact, many people use it in their daily conversations without a pre-knowledge of how it came about. In this article, we are going to expose you to both the Bible origin and meaning of this popular statement.
Life and Death are in the Power of the Tongue Bible Verse
The origin of this popular saying is in the Bible. It can be found in Proverbs 18:21 which says, “death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat its fruit.”
Merely looking at this portion of the scripture, one should be able to grasp the meaning, which is that there is power in human utterances, and every syllable has an immediate consequence, whether positive or negative.
Does that make sense to you? Let’s take the discussion a little further.
What Does the Bible Mean by Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue?
This proverb points to the fact that the word that comes out of your mouth can either make or mare you. It also symbolises the fact that the tongue is tied to your spirit, soul and body, so that your confessions have a direct impact on you. How could these things be?
Luke 6:45 proves further that the tongue has the power of life and death. It says, “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
To drive home this point, recall that God gives man the free will to make choices for themselves. Note also that every utterance you produce comes directly from your mind. Now, since the tongue can not act on his own, consider this proverb a subtle reminder about your ability to control your tongue.
According to James, as little as the tongue is in the body, it is unruly, stubborn and deadly. It is like a small leaven that brings life to a lump. The significance of this interpretation is that if you cannot tame your tongue, your destruction is imminent.
Again, this proverb is a perfect meaning for the saying that “your destiny is in your hands.”
See: Obedience is Better than Sacrifice Bible Story, Meaning, Lessons
Still confused? Let’s look at other Bible verses that talk about the importance of the tongue.
List of Bible Verses Explaining Why Life and Death are in the Power of the Tongue
Here is a list of Verses from the Bible that explains the what the power of the tongue means spiritually, and also gives reasons where you should be careful with how you talk.
1. Psalm 37:30
“The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.”
2. Psalm 12:3
” The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.”
3. Proverbs 15:4
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
4. Proverbs 21:23
” Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
5. Isaiah 3:8
“For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. ”
6. James 3: 5-8
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
7. 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
8. Colosians 4:6
” Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Those are the Bible verses that illustrate the power of the tongue in terms of life and death, which are the direct consequences that follow every utterance.
FAQs on How Life and Death are in the Power of the Tongue
We’ve got some people asking questions about the power of the tongue and how it can bring either life or death to one’s spirit, soul, or body. Let’s answer some of them below:
What Does the Tongue has the Power of Life and Death Mean?
The point here is that with the gift of our freewill, our tongue can either make or mare our lives. It is a warning to everyone to be careful of their utterances, because what we say impacts our lives positively or negatively.
What Does James Say about the Power of the Tongue?
James is one of the few men of God that explains that believers must speak with caution because of the power of the tongue. He described the tongue as an unruly and stubborn part of the body that contains deadly poison. He also says that this little member of the body cannot be tamed, except God helps one to manage it wisely.
Why is the Tongue so Powerful?
Of course, one should be concerned about the power of the tongue despite being one if not the smallest member of the body. Truth is, God is mysterious, and His works cannot be questioned. However, the belief is that the tongue is wired to the mind, so that every utterance is sourced from within, and by extension, a credence to every thought.
Conclusion
We have exposed you to what Proverbs 18:21 means by “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Also, we explained the meaning and provided a list of Bible verses that reiterate this subtle warning to every human being.
We hope you like this post, find more spiritual content and Bible expositions like this on Dailygam
