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Let us look at what the Word of God says:
> “A gentle answer turns away wrath,
> but a harsh word stirs up anger.
> The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
> but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
> The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
> keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
> The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
> but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
> (Proverbs 15:1–4)
Proverbs 15 is one of the clearest chapters in Scripture about the power and consequences of our words. It is not a collection of random sayings. It is a carefully constructed contrast between two ways of life:
And the central instrument that reveals which path we are on is the tongue.
In this chapter, God exposes a simple but profound reality:
Your words are not neutral. They are either:
Furthermore, Proverbs 15 does not separate speech from the inner life. It shows us again and again that:
This is vital for anyone seeking deeper spiritual maturity or deliverance. Many believers seek freedom from curses, bondage, and oppression, yet leave their mouths ungoverned. That is impossible in the kingdom of God. The tongue must come under the rule of the Holy Spirit.
This chapter shows us wisdom in words: how God intends our speech to operate under His authority and for His glory.
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The book of Proverbs is primarily associated with Solomon, to whom God gave unusual wisdom (1 Kings 3:5–12). Proverbs 10–22 forms a central section of short, pointed sayings that compare the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the fool, the diligent and the lazy.
Proverbs 15 stands in that series as a concentrated teaching on:
The setting is everyday life. This is not abstract theology. These proverbs are framed in very practical, ordinary situations:
The writer is a wise observer of life under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is addressing God’s covenant people, teaching them how to live skillfully in the fear of the LORD.
We must also see this: Proverbs is part of God’s covenant instruction. Wisdom is not just “good advice.” It is covenant behavior. To reject wisdom is to rebel against the Lord Himself:
> “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
> and before honor is humility.”
> (Proverbs 15:33)
The entire chapter is framed by the reality that God sees, God evaluates, and God responds:
So when this chapter speaks about words, it is not merely about social skill or natural politeness. It is about living and speaking under the all-seeing gaze of God.
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Let us take two key expressions from the opening verses, because they set the tone for the entire chapter.
### 1) “A gentle answer” – רַךְ מַעֲנֶה (rakh ma‘aneh)
Proverbs 15:1
It is used for “tender” in “tender and delicate woman” (Deut. 28:56). It suggests something that does not resist, does not strike back, not harsh or rigid.
The verse teaches that the *spirit* of our reply has power over atmosphere and emotions. A “tender, soft reply” has the spiritual effect of turning away *wrath*.
The Hebrew word translated “turns away” (יָשִׁיב, *yashiv* – from *shuv*) often means “to turn back,” “to reverse.” It is used of repentance, of turning from evil, even of God turning away His anger.
In other words, a gentle answer has the power to *reverse* a flow of anger. It can turn an emotional direction around. This is spiritual authority expressed through meek speech.
This shows us that wisdom in words is not only about content. It is about tone, attitude, the spirit behind our words.
### 2) “Soothing tongue / wholesome tongue” – מַרְפֵּא לָשׁוֹן (marpe’ lashon)
Proverbs 15:4
Different translations render it as “a soothing tongue,” “a gentle tongue,” or “a wholesome tongue.” Literally:
It is used for “healing” of the body (Jer. 8:22) and “health” to the navel (Prov. 3:8).
So this line literally says:
> “A tongue of healing is a tree of life.”
This is powerful. God reveals that our tongue can become a *medical instrument* in the spiritual realm—bringing healing, restoration, and life. Speech can be a channel of the “tree of life,” that symbol of God’s life-giving presence and power.
The opposite is “perverseness” (*selef*) in the tongue. The word means distortion, crookedness, twistedness. Twisted speech—lies, manipulation, sarcasm, cruelty—does not merely hurt feelings. It “crushes the spirit” (literally “breaks the spirit”).
This is deeply relevant to deliverance and inner healing. Many broken spirits did not come merely from physical violence, but from perverse words spoken over years. God here reveals the tongue as an instrument that can either heal (“marpe’ lashon”) or shatter a person’s inner being.
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Let us now move through the themes of the lyrics (Proverbs 15:1–33), connecting them with the rest of Scripture.
### A. Words that Turn Anger vs. Words that Stir Anger (v.1, v.18)
> “A gentle answer quiets anger, but harsh words stir it up.” (v.1)
> “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one who is patient calms a quarrel.” (v.18)
Two spiritual dynamics are set before us:
1. Gentle, patient speech is an instrument of peace.
It aligns with the character of Christ:
> “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart…” (Matthew 11:29)
It fulfills the New Testament command:
> “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
> for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
> (James 1:19–20)
2. Harsh, hot-tempered speech is an instrument of strife.
It inflames quarrels, opens the door to demonic activity:
> “Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”
> (James 3:16)
Words can either quench or feed the fire of anger. This is spiritual warfare at the level of the tongue.
### B. The Tongue of the Wise vs. the Mouth of Fools (v.2, v.7, v.14, v.28)
> “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness.” (v.2)
> “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.” (v.7)
> “The heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.” (v.14)
> “The hearts of the righteous think carefully before answering; the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.” (v.28)
Notice the pattern:
James 3 describes the tongue as a “world of iniquity,” able to set on fire the course of nature, “set on fire by hell” (James 3:6). A foolish, uncontrolled mouth becomes an open channel for hellish influences.
On the other hand, wise people:
This challenges us in ministry and in witness. Some speak truth, but in such a harsh, proud, or foolish way that they defile the message. The tongue of the wise “adorns” knowledge—it clothes truth in grace, clarity, and love.
### C. The Lord Sees Everything: Words Under Divine Surveillance (v.3, v.8–9, v.11, v.29)
> “The Lord sees everything, watching both the wicked and the good.” (v.3)
> “Even the grave and the place of destruction lie open before the Lord—how much more the hearts of people!” (v.11)
All speech is spoken before God. Nothing is hidden. Jesus takes this further:
> “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
> For by your words you will be justified, and by your words
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