Proverbs · Chapter 18 · Wisdom
Proverbs 18:21 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit."
KJV · King James Version
"Death4194 and life2416 are in the power3027 of the tongue3956: and they that love157 it shall eat398 the fruit6529 thereof."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses they, that, shall, thereof, while the WEB renders these as those, who, will, its. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Proverbs 18:21 in Proverbs 18
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Proverbs 18:21 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Proverbs 18. Read the full chapter →
- v.19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
- v.20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
- v.21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
- v.22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
- v.23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Book background
About the Book of Proverbs
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Wisdom literature
- Author
- Solomon (primarily), Agur, Lemuel
- Date written
- c. 970–700 BC
- Audience
- Young men learning the wisdom of the covenant
- Chapters
- 31
Proverbs offers practical, observable wisdom for living under God in the everyday world — speech, money, marriage, friendship, work, anger. Its core thesis is in 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Chapter 31 closes with the famous portrait of the wise woman whose worth is "far above rubies."
Setting: Compiled across multiple reigns; Solomon's collection plus later additions.
Key themes: wisdom · fear of the LORD · speech · work · relationships
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Proverbs 18:21
Proverbs 18:21 contains 18 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
Death and life are in the power of the tongue
DALAIT
- 2
those who love it will eat its fruit.
TWLIWE
Frequently asked
FAQ about Proverbs 18:21
What does Proverbs 18:21 say?
Proverbs 18:21 reads: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit." — from the Old Testament, Proverbs (Wisdom literature). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Proverbs 18:21 in?
Proverbs 18:21 is in the book of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon (primarily), Agur, Lemuel and written around c. 970–700 BC. Proverbs is wisdom literature in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Young men learning the wisdom of the covenant. Best known for "trust in the LORD with all your heart" (3:5-6).
What is Proverbs 18:21 about?
Proverbs 18:21 is primarily a Bible verse about Wisdom. Within Proverbs, Proverbs offers practical, observable wisdom for living under God in the everyday world — speech, money, marriage, friendship, work, anger. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Proverbs 18:21 in WEB and KJV?
Proverbs 18:21 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Death4194 and life2416 are in the power3027 of the tongue3956: and they that love157 it shall eat398 the fruit6529 thereof.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Proverbs 18:21?
Proverbs 18:21 is 18 words in the WEB translation (84 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 5 seconds.
How can I memorise Proverbs 18:21?
To memorise Proverbs 18:21, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Proverbs 18:21 matter in Proverbs?
Proverbs offers practical, observable wisdom for living under God in the everyday world — speech, money, marriage, friendship, work, anger. Its core thesis is in 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Chapter 31 closes with the famous portrait of the wise woman whose worth is "far above rubies." Proverbs 18:21 sits within this larger story — Proverbs as a whole emphasises wisdom, fear of the LORD, speech.
How can I apply Proverbs 18:21 today?
Many readers use Proverbs 18:21 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Proverbs 18:21 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Psalms 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.”
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-
Ecclesiastes 3:1
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
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-
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Read context →
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1 Samuel 16:7
“But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man look…”
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Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
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Romans 12:2
“Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will…”
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James 1:5
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.”
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Psalms 1:1
“Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;”
Read context →
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Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.”
Read context →
-
Proverbs 4:23
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.”
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More featured verses in Proverbs 18
Read full chapter →
More featured verses in Proverbs
Browse Proverbs → Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
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Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
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Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.”
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Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
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