Proverbs 18:20 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 18:20 mean?

Proverbs 18:20 says that a person will experience the results of what they say, just as someone is filled or satisfied by food. The verse uses the image of a stomach being filled to show that words have real effects, bringing satisfaction or consequences based on what is spoken.

In Proverbs, these sayings are collected as wisdom for everyday life, often spoken from a teacher or parent to a learner. Here, the focus is on how speech—what comes from the mouth and lips—can shape a person's life, for good or bad. The verse suggests that words are not empty; they are like seeds that grow into something that will eventually "fill" a person, whether positively or negatively.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 18:20

• בֶּטֶן (beten, "belly"): This word often refers to the stomach or inner being. Its use here highlights that the effects of speech reach deep within a person, not just outward circumstances.
• פְּרִי (peri, "fruit"): This word means the result or product of something. Calling words "fruit" suggests they are not just sounds, but actions that produce real outcomes.
• תְּבוּאָה (tevu'ah, "increase"): This word is often used for crops or harvest. Here, it points to the idea that words can multiply and return in abundance, for better or worse.

Why Proverbs 18:20 matters

• Proverbs 18:20 clarifies that speech is not just about communication; it has a lasting impact on the speaker's own life, not just on others.
• The verse emphasizes personal responsibility, showing that people "eat" the results of their own words, much like they would eat the harvest they have grown.
• This proverb connects to the next verse (Proverbs 18:21), which talks about life and death being in the power of the tongue, highlighting the serious influence words can have.