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Proverbs 25:18
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbouris a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Psalm 52:2
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.

Psalm 57:4
My soulis among lions:and I lieeven among them that are set on fire,even the sons of men, whose teethare spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

like

Revelation 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenancewas as the sun shineth in his strength.

but

Proverbs 10:20,21
The tongue of the justis as choice silver: the heart of the wickedis little worth…

Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassadoris health.

Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolishdoeth not so.

but the tongue of the wise brings healing
In contrast to rash speech, the words of the wise are depicted as having a restorative and healing effect. This aligns with the biblical principle that wisdom, often associated with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10), leads to life and peace. The "tongue of the wise" suggests discernment and the ability to speak truth in love, as encouraged inEphesians 4:15. Healing here can be understood both in terms of personal relationships and spiritual well-being, reflecting the holistic view of health in biblical times. The wise use of words is a theme throughout Proverbs, emphasizing that wisdom is not just intellectual but practical, impacting how one interacts with others. This healing aspect can also be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate source of healing and wisdom, as He spoke words of life and truth during His earthly ministry (John 6:63).

“Speaking rashly” pictures words that fly out without restraint or prayerful thought.

• Rash speech is often driven by impatience, anger, pride, or the desire to impress (Proverbs 29:20;James 1:19–20).

• It contradicts the pattern of the righteous, whose “heart of the righteous ponders how to answer” (Proverbs 15:28).

•James 3:6 warns that such unchecked words can “set the whole course of one’s life on fire.”

“Is like a piercing sword” draws a vivid comparison: hasty words cut deep.

• The image is deliberate—swords penetrate vital places, leaving wounds that may not be visible but are painfully real (Psalm 57:4;Proverbs 25:18).

• Emotional and spiritual harm follows careless statements—discouraging children, scarring marriages, fracturing friendships (Ephesians 6:4;Colossians 3:19).

• Unlike a dagger that can be confiscated, speech originates from the heart (Luke 6:45); only a changed heart restrains the weapon.

“But the tongue of the wise” contrasts the reckless speaker with one who fears the Lord and walks in His wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

• Wisdom listens first, speaks later, and always weighs words in light of truth and love (Proverbs 16:23;James 3:17).

• The wise consult Scripture, inviting God to season every sentence (Colossians 4:6).

• Such speech reflects Christ, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), aiming to edify rather than to win arguments (Romans 14:19).

“Brings healing” highlights the restorative power God gives to thoughtful words.

• Gentle replies “turn away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1) and “gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).

• Wise speech mends broken spirits, steers the wandering back to truth (Galatians 6:1), and comforts the weary (Isaiah 50:4).

•Ephesians 4:29 commands believers to speak “only what is helpful for building others up…that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Proverbs 12:18 sets two tongues side by side: the rash tongue that cuts like steel and the wise tongue that behaves like medicine. Every conversation hands us the choice between wounding and healing. As disciples of Christ, we lean on the Spirit, measure our words by Scripture, and let the healing tongue prevail.

The tongue of the wise is health.--Or,healing;soothing the wounds made by the other's indiscriminate chatter.

Ἀλλ οὐδὲν ἕρπει ψεῦδος εἰς γῆρας χρόνου

"A sword the body wounds, a word the soul." Vulgate,est qui promittit, which restricts the scope of the clause to the making of vain promises (Leviticus 5:4;Numbers 30:7-9), continuing,et quasi gladio pungitur conscientiae, "And is pierced as it were by the sword of his conscience." where "conscience" is added to make the meaning plain. Such a man suffers remorse if he breaks his promise, or if, like Jephthah, he keeps it.The tongue of the wise is health; it does not pierce and wound like that of the chatterer, rather it soothes and heals even when it reproves (Proverbs 4:22;Proverbs 10:11).

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