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Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wiseis health.

Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 26:20-22
Where no wood is,there the fire goeth out: so wherethere is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth…

are like choice morsels
This phrase uses the metaphor of food to describe the allure of gossip. In ancient times, choice morsels would have been considered delicacies, something desirable and tempting. This imagery suggests that gossip can be enticing and hard to resist, much like a delicious treat. The comparison to food also implies that gossip can be consumed and internalized, affecting one's thoughts and actions. The allure of gossip is further explored inProverbs 26:22, which repeats this imagery, underscoring its persistent danger.

that go down into the inmost being
The "inmost being" refers to the deepest parts of a person, indicating that gossip can penetrate and affect one's heart and soul. In biblical anthropology, the heart is often seen as the center of thought, emotion, and will. This suggests that gossip can influence a person's inner life, potentially leading to bitterness, resentment, or other negative emotions. The impact of words on the heart is a recurring theme in scripture, as seen inMatthew 15:18-19, where Jesus teaches that what comes out of the mouth reflects the heart's condition. This phrase warns of the profound and potentially harmful effects of internalizing gossip.

- Scripture begins with the source: “words.” God created and upholds everything by His word (Genesis 1:3;Hebrews 1:3), so words carry weight and consequence.

- These particular words spring from “a gossip”—someone who spreads information that should remain private or that tears others down.Proverbs 20:19 warns, “He who reveals secrets is a gossip; therefore do not associate with one who talks too much”.

- Gossip defies God’s call to love our neighbor (Leviticus 19:16;Ephesians 4:29). It distorts truth, ruins reputations, and sows distrust (Proverbs 16:28;Romans 1:29-30).

- The comparison is to delicacies—tasty, desirable bites that promise quick pleasure. Sin often looks appealing at first (Proverbs 9:17).

- Listening to gossip can feel enjoyable: it feeds curiosity, makes us feel “in the know,” and briefly boosts pride. YetProverbs 26:22 repeats the warning word-for-word, underscoring the danger.

- Just because something tastes good does not mean it nourishes; gossip is spiritual junk food that masks its poison with sweetness (Psalm 141:3-4;James 3:5-6).

- The picture shifts from taste to digestion. We do not merely sample gossip; we swallow it.

- What enters the ears quickly travels to the heart (Matthew 15:18). Once ingested, the words settle, influencing thoughts, attitudes, and future speech (Luke 6:45).

- Like seeds sinking into soil, gossip’s tales embed themselves and are hard to uproot (Proverbs 26:20;2 Timothy 2:16-17).

- The “inmost being” points to the core of who we are—mind, will, and emotions (Psalm 51:6).

- When gossip reaches that depth, it reshapes how we view others, often breeding suspicion, jealousy, or resentment (1 Timothy 6:4-5).

- God’s Word is meant to penetrate to this same level to bring life (Hebrews 4:12;Psalm 119:11). Gossip, by contrast, lodges there to corrupt.

Proverbs 18:8 exposes gossip’s deceptive power. Spoken lightly, it feels like a flavorful treat, yet once swallowed it settles deep inside, warping hearts and relationships. God calls us to refuse both the speaking and the hearing of such words, instead filling our inmost being with truth that builds up and honors Him.

"Lingua susurronis
Est pejor felle draconis." The verse recurs inProverbs 26:22; but the word rendered "wounds" (mitlahamim) is to be differently explained. It is probably the hithp. participle oflaham," to swallow," and seems to mean "dainty morsels," such as one eagerly swallows. Thus Gesenius, Schultens, Delitzsch, Nowack, and others. So the clause means, "A whisperer's words are received with avidity; calumny, slander, and evil stories find eager listeners." The same metaphor is found inProverbs 19:28;Job 34:7. There may, at the same time, be involved the idea that these dainty morsels are of poisonous character. Vulgate,Verba bilinguis, quasi simplicia, "The words of a man of double tongue seem to be simple," which contains another truth.They go down into the innermost parts of the belly (Proverbs 20:27, 30). The hearers take in the slanders and treasure them up in memory, to be used as occasion shall offer. The LXX. omits this verse, and in its place introduces a paragraph founded partly on the next verse and partly onProverbs 19:15. The Vulgate also inserts the interpolation, "Fear overthrows the sluggish; and the souls of the effeminate (ἀνδρογύνων) shall hunger."

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