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Selected Verse: Proverbs 12:18 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Pr 12:18 |
Strong Concordance |
There is [03426] that speaketh [0981] like the piercings [04094] of a sword [02719]: but the tongue [03956] of the wise [02450] is health [04832]. |
| |
King James |
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
speaketh--literally, "speaketh hastily," or indiscreetly (Psa 106:33), as an angry man retorts harsh and provoking invectives.
tongue . . . health--by soothing and gentle language. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
18 There is that babbleth like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise is healing.
The second (cf. Pro 11:24) of the proverbs beginning with ישׁ. The verb בּטה (בּטא), peculiar to the Hebr., which in the modern Hebr. generally means "to speak out" (מבטא in the grammar: the pronunciation) (according to which the lxx, Syr., and Targ. translate it by אמר), means in biblical Hebr., especially with reference to the binding of oneself by an oath (Lev 5:4), and to solemn protestations (Num 30:7, Num 30:9, according to which Jerome, promittit): to utter incautiously in words, to speak without thought and at random, referred erroneously by Gesenius to the R. בט, to be hollow, probably a word imitative of the sound, like the Greek βατταρίζειν, to stammer, and βαττολογεῖν, to babble, which the lexicographers refer to a talkative person of the name of Βάττος, as our "salbadern" [= to talk foolishly] owes its origin to one Jenaer Bader on the Saal. Theod. and the Graec. Venet. give the false reading בּוטח (πεποιθώς). כּמדקרות חרב stands loco accusativi, the כּ being regarded as a noun: (effutiens verba) quae sunt instar confossionum gladii (Fl.). We also call such a man, who bridles his loquacity neither by reflection nor moderates it by indulgent reference to his fellow-men, a Schwertmaul (sword-mouth) or a Schandmaul (a mouth of shame = slanderer), and say that he has a tongue like a sword. But on the other hand, the tongue of the wise, which is in itself pure gentleness and a comfort to others, since, far from wounding, rather, by means of comforting, supporting, directing exhortation, exercises a soothing an calming influence. Regarding רפא, whence מרפּא, Dietrich in Gesenius' Lex. is right. The root-meaning of the verb רפא (cognate רפה, to be loose, Hiph. to let go, Hithpa. Pro 18:9, to show oneself slothful) is, as the Arab. kindred word rafâ, rafa, raf, rawf (râf) shows, that of stilling, softening, soothing, whence arises the meaning of healing (for which the Arab. has ṭabb and 'alkh); the meaning to repair, to mend, which the Arab. rafâ and rafa have, does not stand in a prior relation to to heal, as might appear from Job 13:4, but is a specializing of the general idea of reficere lying in mitigare, just as the patcher is called ἀκέστρια = ἠπήτρια,
(Note: Whether ῥάπτειν, explained neither by Curtius nor by Flick, stands in a relation to it, we leave out of view.)
from ἀκέομαι, which means equally to still and to heal. Since thus in רפא the meanings of mitigating and of healing are involved, it is plain that מרפא, as it means healing (the remedy) and at the same time (cf. θεραπεία, Rev 22:2) the preservation of health, Pro 4:22; Pro 6:15; Pro 16:24; Pro 29:1, so also may mean mildness (here and Pro 15:4), tranquillity (Pro 14:30; Ecc 10:4, calm patience in contrast to violent passion), and refreshing (Pro 13:17). Oetinger and Hitzig translate here "medicine;" our translation, "healing (the means of healing)," is not essentially different from it. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Health - Tends to the comfort and benefit of others. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| There is that speaketh - Instead of בוטה boteh, blabbing out, blustering, several MSS. have בוטח boteach, Trusting: and instead of כמדקרות kemadkeroth, As the piercings, seven MSS., with the Complutensian Polyglot, have במדקרות bemadkeroth, In the piercings. "There is that trusteth in the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." But I suppose the former to be the true reading. |
33 Because they provoked [04784] his spirit [07307], so that he spake unadvisedly [0981] with his lips [08193].
17 A wicked [07563] messenger [04397] falleth [05307] into mischief [07451]: but a faithful [0529] ambassador [06735] is health [04832].
4 If the spirit [07307] of the ruler [04910] rise up [05927] against thee, leave [03240] not thy place [04725]; for yielding [04832] pacifieth [03240] great [01419] offences [02399].
30 A sound [04832] heart [03820] is the life [02416] of the flesh [01320]: but envy [07068] the rottenness [07538] of the bones [06106].
4 A wholesome [04832] tongue [03956] is a tree [06086] of life [02416]: but perverseness [05558] therein is a breach [07667] in the spirit [07307].
1 He [0376], that being often reproved [08433] hardeneth [07185] his neck [06203], shall suddenly [06621] be destroyed [07665], and that without remedy [04832].
24 Pleasant [05278] words [0561] are as an honeycomb [06688] [01706], sweet [04966] to the soul [05315], and health [04832] to the bones [06106].
15 Therefore shall his calamity [0343] come [0935] suddenly [06597]; suddenly [06621] shall he be broken [07665] without remedy [04832].
22 For they are life [02416] unto those that find [04672] them, and health [04832] to all their flesh [01320].
2 In [1722] the midst [3319] of the street [4113] of it [846], and [2532] on either [2532] side [1782] [1782] of the river [4215], was there the tree [3586] of life [2222], which bare [4160] twelve [1427] manner of fruits [2590], and yielded [591] her [846] fruit [2590] every [2596] [1538] [1520] month [3376]: and [2532] the leaves [5444] of the tree [3586] were for [1519] the healing [2322] of the nations [1484].
4 But [0199] ye are forgers [02950] of lies [08267], ye are all physicians [07495] of no value [0457].
9 He also that is slothful [07503] in his work [04399] is brother [0251] to him that is a great [01167] waster [07843].
9 But every vow [05088] of a widow [0490], and of her that is divorced [01644], wherewith they have bound [0631] their souls [05315], shall stand [06965] against her.
7 And her husband [0376] heard [08085] it, and held his peace [02790] at her in the day [03117] that he heard [08085] it: then her vows [05088] shall stand [06965], and her bonds [0632] wherewith she bound [0631] her soul [05315] shall stand [06965].
4 Or if a soul [05315] swear [07650], pronouncing [0981] with his lips [08193] to do evil [07489], or to do good [03190], whatsoever it be that a man [0120] shall pronounce [0981] with an oath [07621], and it be hid [05956] from him; when he knoweth [03045] of it, then he shall be guilty [0816] in one [0259] of these.
24 There is [03426] that scattereth [06340], and yet increaseth [03254]; and there is that withholdeth [02820] more than is meet [03476], but it tendeth to poverty [04270].