Searching for Proverbs 10:11 meaning? Here’s a commentary on what the passage means, along with application and appropriate prayer.
Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 10:11, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
American Standard Version
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
World English Bible version
The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:11 Meaning & Commentary
The word mouth here is the Hebrew word “Pey”, which speaks about someone’s speech, or their words. So, then this scripture is talking not just talking about the mouth as an organ through which we just eat, or anything like that, but more specifically about the speech which comes out of our mouth. So, it’s really about the words we speak and allow to pass out of our mouths. The Bible is abundantly clear about the power of our words and the effect that they can have: Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
So, going back to Proverbs 10:11, we see how the mouth of the righteous (their words) can bring life and death over our lives, and over other people’s lives. In the New Testament, we read about the power of words as well, and how they can bring death or life over a person’s life: James 3:8-10 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] these things ought not to be so.
So, with our mouth, we can speak blessing or cursing not only over ourselves but even over other people! Our words can even impart grace to those who hear them! Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. If there is this much power in words, of course, the mouth, or the words of the wicked conceal violence, meaning that they can cause violence, or even destruction when spoken out. Think even about some fights, wars, or general strife; they are usually just started by words.
Application
How then can we practically apply Proverbs 10:11 to our lives?
The scriptures we have looked at are profound and show just how powerful our words are! So, the obvious application is to watch the words that we speak, over our own lives, and the lives of others. The thing is that words are an outflow of what is in your hearts: Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
So, this is more than the words we speak, only. This is about the state of our heart, and what is happening in our relationship with God. So, we are to take heed to not only our words but what is happening in our hearts. There is a very common saying which says, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. It’s an interesting quote, which can easily be paraphrased like this: “If you know that your heart towards someone or something is not pure, rather keep quiet”. You see, it’s when we have turmoil and lack of peace and joy in our hearts, we need to be especially careful about speaking out.
We have almost certainly all seen a situation where someone speaks out in anger, causes damage, destruction, and hurt around them, even to people they care about, and then afterward regrets it. So, the most practical application here is to simply “zip the lip” or “bite the tongue” when you feel you just want to explode and say something that you could regret later. Let’s rather speak with the love of God so that we can speak blessing over one another and impart grace to those who hear us!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for this wonderful privilege and the power which you have placed in my words. Today, I come to you as your servant and I desire to yield my tongue to you, as an instrument of righteousness. I pray that you would cause my words to bring life, healing, and Grace wherever they land. Help me to purify my heart and walk with a pure heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
