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◄ 3956. lashon►

Lexical Summary

lashon: Tongue, language, speech

Original Word:לָשׁוֹן
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:lashown
Pronunciation:lah-SHON
Phonetic Spelling:(law-shone')
KJV: + babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge
NASB:tongue, language, tongues, bay, bar, languages, speech
Word Origin:[fromH3960 (לָשַׁן - slander)]

1. the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

babbler, evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge

Or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah {lesh-o-naw'}; fromlashan; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water) -- + babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.

see HEBREWlashan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
tongue
NASB Translation
bar (2), bark* (1), bay (3), charmer* (1), language (14), languages (2), slanderer* (1), speech (1), tongue (84), tongues (5), word (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

^{Josh 7:21} and (more often)^{Isaiah 28:11} (Late Hebrewid.; also Assyrianlišânu; Arabic

; Ethiopic

; Aramaic , ,

(allli-); Zinjirli DHM^{Sendsch. 59}); — absoluteExodus 4:10 +;Joshua 15:2; constructJoshua 7:21 +; suffix2 Samuel 23:2;Exodus 11:7 2t.;Judges 7:5;Esther 1:22;Psalm 34:14;Isaiah 59:3, etc.; plural absolutePsalm 31:21;Isaiah 66:18; constructZechariah 8:23; suffixGenesis 10:20,31; —

tongue of men,

Judges 7:5; cleaving to the palate (), in thirstLamentations 4:4, so as to produce dumbnessJob 29:10 ("" ),Psalm 137:6;Ezekiel 3:26 ("" ); cleaving to jaws ()Psalm 22:16;Isaiah 41:17their tongue for thirst is parched;Zechariah 14:12 (of s judgment); a choice morsel is heldJob 20:12 (figurative of mischief), comparePsalm 10:7 (ready to be uttered),Psalm 66:17 ("" ),Songs 4:11.

(especially Psalms, Proverbs, often "" , ); —Exodus 4:10 (J)heavy of tongue;Proverbs 16:1,2 Samuel 23:2, compareProverbs 31:26;Psalm 139:4 (),Job 6:30;Proverbs 18:21, compareProverbs 21:23;Proverbs 25:15; of (false) prophets,Jeremiah 23:31; subject of verb of speaking, Di —Job 33:2;Psalm 12:4;Psalm 37:30; compare (Jeremiah 9:7 below and)Isaiah 32:4,Psalm 45:2, i.e. as swift as a rapid scribe's stylus; subject ofIsaiah 59:3;Job 27:4;Psalm 35:28;Psalm 71:24; subject ofIsaiah 45:23;Psalm 73:9; of hostile speech, insolence, etc.,Joshua 10:21 (J E; object of I. q. v., compare

below),Jeremiah 18:18;Isaiah 3:8;Hosea 7:16 (but text dubious, compare We Now),Psalm 57:6, comparePsalm 64:4;Psalm 140:4;Isaiah 54:17;Isaiah 57:4; further,Jeremiah 9:2;Jeremiah 9:4; as instrument of seductive flattery (), without ,Psalm 5:10;Proverbs 28:33, compareProverbs 6:24;. of falsehoodPsalm 78:36 (compare below); of slander (compare )Psalm 15:3, Psalm 140:12, compareProverbs 25:33;Psalm 39:2; comparePsalm 64:9 (text dubious, see Hup Che Bae); moral qualities ascribed to: — as arrogantPsalm 12:5 (comparePsalm 12:4 above); as devising injuries,Psalm 52:4, compareProverbs 17:4;Psalm 50:19nectere fraudem;Psalm 34:14 "" ; often of lying tongue:Proverbs 6:17;Proverbs 12:19;Proverbs 21:6;Proverbs 26:28;Psalm 109:2;Psalm 52:6;Micah 6:12;Psalm 120:2;Psalm 120:3;Zephaniah 3:13;Proverbs 10:31, andProverbs 17:20;Job 15:5; alsoJeremiah 9:7; on the other handProverbs 10:20;Proverbs 12:18;Proverbs 15:2;Proverbs 15:4;Isaiah 50:4. — Note phrasesJob 5:21scourge of (the)tongue,Psalm 31:21;Psalm 55:10: alsoEcclesiastes 10:11 (of serpent-charmer), andEzekiel 36:3. — On tongue of (once), see below

Psalm 51:16;Psalm 126:2;Isaiah 35:6,Psalm 119:172.

=languageDeuteronomy 28:49;Jeremiah 5:15 and later, namely:Ezekiel 3:5,6 (, "" , but strike out Manuscripts Co Sgfr^KauAT),Isaiah 28:11 ("" , , figurative of s unintelligible dealings);Isaiah 33:19 ("" );Isaiah 66:18 ("" ),Zechariah 8:23;Genesis 10:5,20,31 (all P),Nehemiah 13:24;Esther 1:22 (twice in verse);Esther 3:12;Esther 8:9 (twice in verse);Daniel 1:4.

tongue of animals: dogExodus 11:7 (J; object of I. q. v.; compare ),Psalm 68:24; adderJob 20:16 (subjectof ); crocodileJob 40:25.

tongue of fire, devouring,Isaiah 5:24; compare of ,Isaiah 30:27 ("" ).

= (tongue-shaped)wedge of goldJoshua 7:21,24 (JE). So Assyrianlišânu; see Meissn^{ZAW xxlii {1905}, 151 f.} Johns^{Assyrian Deeds 2, 281}.

= (tongue-shaped)bay of seaIsaiah 11:15;Joshua 15:2,5;Joshua 18:19 (all P).

^{Daniel 3:7} ( Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew , √ ); —tongue =language, figurative forpeople: absoluteDaniel 3:29; plural emphaticDaniel 3:4;Daniel 3:7;Daniel 4:31;Daniel 5:19;Daniel 6:26;Daniel 7:14 (compare Biblical Hebrew

,Isaiah 66:18).

see . below

Topical Lexicon

Primary Sense and Range of Imagery

לָשׁוֹן (lashon) is used roughly 117 times in the Old Testament. While its literal meaning is the human tongue, Scripture applies the term to speech, language, geography, and even precious metal, weaving a comprehensive theology of words, identity, and divine rule.

Physical Organ and Instrument of Speech

• Ordinary activity: “Everyone who laps water with his tongue as a dog laps” (Judges 7:5).
• Suffering and thirst: “My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth” (Psalm 22:15;Lamentations 4:4).

These passages ground later moral instruction in concrete human experience.

Moral Dimension: Tongue as Agent of Blessing or Curse

• “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
• “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech” (Psalm 34:13).
• “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20), yet “Your tongue devises destruction” (Psalm 52:2).

Wisdom and prophetic books present the tongue as a decisive indicator of the heart, with profound relational and covenantal consequences.

Language and Ethnic Identity

• Babel’s aftermath: nations spread “according to their languages” (Genesis 10:5, 20, 31).
• Warning of invasion: “a nation whose language you will not understand” (Deuteronomy 28:49).
• Exilic context: Daniel is taught “the language of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).
• Eschatological hope: “All nations and tongues” gather to see God’s glory (Isaiah 66:18); “I will restore pure speech to the peoples” (Zephaniah 3:9).

The term underscores both division and the coming unity of the nations in worship.

Geographical and Material Metaphors

• “The tongue of the Egyptian Sea” (Isaiah 11:15) and coastal “tongues” (Joshua 15:2) describe narrow projections of water or land.
• A “bar of gold” (Joshua 7:21) is literally a “tongue of gold,” showing the word’s application to shape and appearance.

Divine Judgment and Deliverance

• Judgment: “Their tongues will rot in their mouths” (Zechariah 14:12); “The LORD will cut off … the tongue that speaks proud things” (Psalm 12:3–4).
• Protection: “Against the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl with its tongue” (Exodus 11:7); “You will refute every tongue that accuses you” (Isaiah 54:17).

The tongue becomes both the instrument judged and the oracle vindicating God’s people.

Prophetic and Messianic Overtones

• Servant of the LORD: “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples” (Isaiah 50:4) anticipates Christ’s teaching ministry.
• Universal confession: “To Me every knee will bow, every tongue will confess” (Isaiah 45:23), later applied to Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10–11).

These texts link lashon to the ultimate acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty in the Messiah.

Practical Ministry Application

1. Guarded Speech:Proverbs 21:23 guides pastoral exhortation toward disciplined communication.
2. Cross-cultural Mission: The “tongues” of nations point to evangelism that embraces linguistic diversity (Acts 2 echoes).
3. Worship and Counseling: The same organ that curses can bless; worship leaders and counselors alike harness this tension to shape congregational life.
4. Apologetics:Isaiah 54:17 encourages believers to answer hostile tongues with truth and confidence.

Selected Key References

Genesis 10:5, 20, 31;Exodus 11:7;Deuteronomy 28:49;Joshua 7:21;Judges 7:5;Psalm 12:3–4; 22:15; 34:13; 52:2;Proverbs 10:20; 15:4; 18:21; 21:23;Isaiah 11:15; 45:23; 50:4; 54:17; 66:18;Jeremiah 9:5;Daniel 1:4;Zephaniah 3:9;Zechariah 14:12.

See Also

Speech; Language; Slander; Confession; Nations

Forms and Transliterations

בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ בִּלְשֽׁוֹנִי׃ בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן בִּלְשׁוֹנ֨וֹ בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֑י בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֥י בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י בַלָּשׁ֔וֹן בלשון בלשונו בלשוני בלשוני׃ הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃ הלשון׃ הלשן וְהַלְּשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃ וְלָשׁ֥וֹן וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ וּ֝לְשׁוֹנְךָ֗ וּ֝לְשׁוֹנִ֗י וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹן וּלְשֽׁוֹנְךָ֙ וּלְשׁ֖וֹן וּלְשׁ֣וֹן וּלְשׁ֥וֹן וּלְשׁ֨וֹן וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ וּלְשׁוֹנָ֖ם ובלשון ובלשונם והלשנות וכלשון וכלשונם׃ ולשון ולשונו ולשוני ולשונך ולשונם ולשוננו כִּלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ כלשון כלשונו כלשנו לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם לְ֭שׁוֹנִי לְֽשׁוֹן־ לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ לְשֹׁנ֣וֹת לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃ לְשֹׁנֽוֹת׃ לְשׁ֣וֹן לְשׁ֤וֹן לְשׁ֥וֹן לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ לְשׁוֹנְכֶ֖ם לְשׁוֹנִ֗י לְשׁוֹנִ֣י לְשׁוֹנִ֨י ׀ לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃ לְשׁוֹנֵ֔ךְ לְשׁוֹנֶ֑ךָ לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם לְשׁוֹנָ֔ם לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם לְשׁוֹנָ֛ם לְשׁוֹנָ֤ם לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ׃ לְשׁוֹנָם֙ לְשׁוֹנָם֮ לְשׁוֹנֽוֹ׃ לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָ֑ם לִלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ לִלְשֹׁנֵ֣נוּ לִלְשֹׁנֹתָ֑ם לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן לָ֭שׁוֹן לָשֽׁוֹן׃ לָשׁ֑וֹן לָשׁ֔וֹן לָשׁ֖וֹן לָשׁ֛וֹן לָשׁ֥וֹן לָשׁוֹן֮ ללשנו ללשננו ללשנתם לשון לשון׃ לשוןש־ לשונה׃ לשונו לשונו׃ לשוני לשוני׃ לשונך לשונכם לשונם לשנו לשנו׃ לשנות לשנות׃ מִלְּשׁ֣וֹן מִלָּשׁ֥וֹן מלשון ḇal·lā·šō·wn ḇallāšōwn bil·šō·w·nî ḇil·šō·w·nî bil·šō·w·nōw bil·šō·wn bilShon bilshoNi bilshoNo bilšōwn bilšōwnî ḇilšōwnî bilšōwnōw hal·lā·šō·wn hal·lā·šōn hallaShon hallāšōn hallāšōwn kil·šō·nōw kil·šō·w·nōw kil·šō·wn kilShon kilshoNo kilšōnōw kilšōwn kilšōwnōw lā·šō·wn laShon lāšōwn lə·šō·nō·wṯ lə·šō·nōw lə·šō·w·nāh lə·šō·w·nām lə·šō·w·ne·ḵā lə·šō·w·nêḵ lə·šō·w·nî lə·šō·w·nō·še- lə·šō·w·nōw lə·šō·wn lə·šō·wn·ḵā lə·šō·wn·ḵem leShon leshoNah leshoNam leshonCha leshonChem leshoNech leshoNecha leshoNi leshoNo leshonoShe leshoNot ləšōnōw ləšōnōwṯ ləšōwn ləšōwnāh ləšōwnām ləšōwnêḵ ləšōwneḵā ləšōwnî ləšōwnḵā ləšōwnḵem ləšōwnōše- ləšōwnōw lil·šō·nê·nū lil·šō·nō·ṯām lil·šō·nōw lilshoNenu lilshoNo lilshonoTam lilšōnênū lilšōnōṯām lilšōnōw mil·lā·šō·wn mil·lə·šō·wn millaShon millāšōwn milleShon milləšōwn ū·ḇə·lā·šō·wn ū·ḇil·šō·w·nām ū·lə·šō·w·nām ū·lə·šō·w·nê·nū ū·lə·šō·w·nî ū·lə·šō·w·nōw ū·lə·šō·wn ū·lə·šō·wn·ḵā ūḇəlāšōwn ūḇilšōwnām uleShon uleshoNam uleshoncha uleshoNenu uleshoNi uleshoNo ūləšōwn ūləšōwnām ūləšōwnênū ūləšōwnî ūləšōwnḵā ūləšōwnōw uvelaShon uvilshoNam vallaShon vechilShon vechilshoNam vehalleshoNot velaShon vilShoNi wə·hal·lə·šō·nō·wṯ wə·ḵil·šō·w·nām wə·ḵil·šō·wn wə·lā·šō·wn wəhalləšōnōwṯ wəḵilšōwn wəḵilšōwnām wəlāšōwn

Links

Interlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 10:5
HEB:בְּאַרְצֹתָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לִלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם בְּגוֹיֵהֶֽם׃
NAS: every oneaccording to his language, according to their families,
KJV: every oneafter his tongue, after their families,
INT: their lands everyto his language to their families their nations

Genesis 10:20
HEB:חָ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָ֑ם בְּאַרְצֹתָ֖ם בְּגוֹיֵהֶֽם׃
NAS: according to their families,according to their languages, by their lands,
KJV: after their families,after their tongues, in their countries,
INT: of Ham to their familiesto their languages their lands their nations

Genesis 10:31
HEB:שֵׁ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לִלְשֹׁנֹתָ֑ם בְּאַרְצֹתָ֖ם לְגוֹיֵהֶֽם׃
NAS: according to their families,according to their languages, by their lands,
KJV: after their families,after their tongues, in their lands,
INT: of Shem to their familiesto their languages their lands to their nations

Exodus 4:10
HEB:פֶּ֛ה וּכְבַ֥ד לָשׁ֖וֹן אָנֹֽכִי׃
NAS: of speech and slowof tongue.
KJV: of speech, and of a slowtongue.
INT: of speech and slowof tongue I

Exodus 11:7
HEB:יֶֽחֱרַץ־ כֶּ֙לֶב֙ לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ לְמֵאִ֖ישׁ וְעַד־
KJV: movehis tongue, against man
INT: move A doghis tongue man or

Deuteronomy 28:49
HEB:לֹא־ תִשְׁמַ֖ע לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃
NAS: whoselanguage you shall not understand,
KJV: a nationwhose tongue thou shalt not understand;
INT: shall not understandlanguage

Joshua 7:21
HEB:שְׁקָלִ֣ים כֶּ֗סֶף וּלְשׁ֨וֹן זָהָ֤ב אֶחָד֙
NAS: of silverand a bar of gold
KJV: and awedge of gold
INT: shekels of silverbar of gold and a

Joshua 7:24
HEB:הָאַדֶּ֣רֶת וְֽאֶת־ לְשׁ֣וֹן הַזָּהָ֡ב וְֽאֶת־
NAS: the mantle,the bar of gold,
KJV: and the garment,and the wedge of gold,
INT: the silver the mantlethe bar of gold his sons

Joshua 10:21
HEB:לְאִ֖ישׁ אֶת־ לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃
NAS: one uttereda word against any of the sons
KJV: none movedhis tongue against any
INT: of Israel anyA word

Joshua 15:2
HEB:הַמֶּ֑לַח מִן־ הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן הַפֹּנֶ֥ה נֶֽגְבָּה׃
NAS: Sea,from the bay that turns
KJV: sea,from the bay that looketh
INT: of the Salt fromthe bay turns to the south

Joshua 15:5
HEB:לִפְאַ֤ת צָפ֙וֹנָה֙ מִלְּשׁ֣וֹן הַיָּ֔ם מִקְצֵ֖ה
NAS: sidewas from the bay of the sea
KJV: quarter[was] from the bay of the sea
INT: side of the norththe bay of the sea the mouth

Joshua 18:19
HEB:הַגְּב֗וּל אֶל־ לְשׁ֤וֹן יָם־ הַמֶּ֙לַח֙
NAS: at the northbay of the Salt
KJV: were at the northbay of the salt
INT: and the border aboutbay Sea of the Salt

Judges 7:5
HEB:אֲשֶׁר־ יָלֹק֩ בִּלְשׁוֹנ֨וֹ מִן־ הַמַּ֜יִם
NAS: the waterwith his tongue as a dog
KJV: of the waterwith his tongue, as a dog
INT: who lapshis tongue at the water

2 Samuel 23:2
HEB:וּמִלָּת֖וֹ עַל־ לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃
NAS: by me, And His wordwas on my tongue.
KJV: by me, and his word[was] in my tongue.
INT: and his word was onmy tongue

Nehemiah 13:24
HEB:לְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוּדִ֑ית וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן עַ֥ם וָעָֽם׃
NAS: the language of Judah,but the language of his own
KJV: in the Jews' language,but according to the language of each
INT: to speak the languagethe language of his own people

Esther 1:22
HEB:עַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ לִהְי֤וֹת כָּל־
NAS: peopleaccording to their language, that every
KJV: thereof, and to every peopleafter their language, that every man
INT: every peopleto their language become every

Esther 1:22
HEB:בְּבֵית֔וֹ וּמְדַבֵּ֖ר כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽוֹ׃ פ
NAS: and the one who speaksin the language of his own people.
KJV: and that [it] should be publishedaccording to the language of every people.
INT: house speaksthe language people

Esther 3:12
HEB:וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ בְּשֵׁ֨ם הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ
NAS: peopleaccording to its language, being written
KJV: thereof, and [to] every peopleafter their language; in the name
INT: each peoplelanguage the name of King

Esther 8:9
HEB:וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ וְאֶ֨ל־ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים
NAS: peopleaccording to their language as well as to the Jews
KJV: thereof, and unto every peopleafter their language, and to the Jews
INT: every peopleto their language to the Jews

Esther 8:9
HEB:הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים כִּכְתָבָ֖ם וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃
NAS: according to their scriptand their language.
KJV: according to their writing,and according to their language.
INT: the Jews describeand their language

Job 5:21
HEB: בְּשׁ֣וֹט לָ֭שׁוֹן תֵּחָבֵ֑א וְֽלֹא־
NAS: from the scourgeof the tongue, And you will not be afraid
KJV: from the scourgeof the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid
INT: the scourgeof the tongue will be hidden and you

Job 6:30
HEB: הֲיֵשׁ־ בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֥י עַוְלָ֑ה אִם־
NAS: injusticeon my tongue? Cannot
KJV: iniquityin my tongue? cannot my taste
INT: is therebabbler iniquity lo

Job 15:5
HEB:פִ֑יךָ וְ֝תִבְחַ֗ר לְשׁ֣וֹן עֲרוּמִֽים׃
NAS: And you choosethe language of the crafty.
KJV: and thou choosestthe tongue of the crafty.
INT: your mouth choosethe language of the crafty

Job 20:12
HEB:יַ֝כְחִידֶ֗נָּה תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנֽוֹ׃
NAS: [And] he hides it underhis tongue,
KJV: [though] he hideit under his tongue;
INT: hides underhis tongue

Job 20:16
HEB:יִינָ֑ק תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ לְשׁ֣וֹן אֶפְעֶֽה׃
NAS: The viper'stongue slays
KJV: the viper'stongue shall slay
INT: sucks slaystongue the viper's