He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

PROVERBS 13:3KJV
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Proverbs 13:3 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 13:3 mean?

Proverbs 13:3 teaches that guarding what you say protects your well-being, but speaking carelessly can lead to ruin. The verse draws a clear line between careful speech and the dangers that come from talking too freely.

This proverb comes from the collection of wise sayings traditionally attributed to Solomon, directed at anyone seeking wisdom for daily life. The focus is on the power of words and the real-life consequences of how a person uses their mouth. The verse highlights that self-control in speech is not just about good manners, but about preserving one’s own life and avoiding trouble.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 13:3

  • "keepeth" (נָצַר, natsar): This word means to guard or watch closely, like someone protecting something valuable. Here, it shows that watching over your mouth is an active, intentional effort.
  • "mouth" (פֶּה, peh): This refers to speech or what a person says, not just the physical mouth.
  • "keepeth" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This second word for "keep" means to watch over or preserve, often used for guarding something precious. The repetition with different words emphasizes the seriousness of the warning.
  • "life" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh): This word often means "soul" or "life," pointing to the whole person, not just physical survival.
  • "wide" (פָּרַץ, parats): This word means to burst open or break out, suggesting someone who talks without restraint.
  • "lips" (שָׂפָה, saphah): This refers to the act of speaking, not just the body part.
  • "destruction" (מְחִתָּה, mechittah): This word means ruin or calamity, showing that careless words can bring serious consequences.

Why Proverbs 13:3 matters

  • Proverbs 13:3 clears up the common idea that words are harmless by showing that speech can actually protect or endanger a person’s whole life.
  • The verse emphasizes personal responsibility, teaching that self-control in speech is a form of wisdom that has real effects.
  • In the wider context of Proverbs, this saying fits with the theme that wisdom is practical and shows up in everyday choices, including how we talk.

Where else these words appear

“wide” Hebrew H6589 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 16:25 Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

“destruction” Hebrew H4288 · used in 11 verses

  • Psalms 89:40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
  • Proverbs 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
  • Proverbs 21:15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

“keepeth” Hebrew H5341 · used in 62 verses

  • Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
  • Psalms 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
  • Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.