“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
The tongue has power. (1) It has power to harm and kill. Consider the following from the book of Proverbs – “There is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword” (Proverbs 12:18). “Perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). Someone has written, “A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A bitter word may hate instill. A brutal word may smite and kill.” (2) It has power to heal and give life. Consider the following from the book of Proverbs – “The lips of the righteous feed many” (Proverbs 10:21). “The tongue of the wise promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18). “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life” (Proverbs 15:4). Someone has written, “A gracious word may smooth the way. A joyous word may lessen stress. A loving word may heal and bless.”
There are consequences to how one uses the tongue. (1) There are consequences in this life. An example of this can be found in these words: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). (2) There are also eternal consequences (e.g., Matthew 12:36-37; Revelation 21:8).
We will eat the fruit of our words. Biting into a good juicy fruit is pleasant. Think about a good watermelon on a hot summer day. Biting into a bad fruit is not pleasant. Have you ever bit into an unripe persimmon?
Those who love it (i.e., love the tongue, love to talk) should especially be mindful of the power and consequences of words. The tongue is a wonderful tool but needs to be wisely used. One writer expressed it this way, “Would that we all felt as keen a sense of responsibility for the use of our tongues as the policeman does for the use of his gun or the physician for the use of his powerful medicines!” [Rubel Shelly, What Christian Living is All About (Studies in James) p. 51].
Bonus
What is the difference between a vegetable, a fruit, and a berry? In modern botany the following distinctions are made. (1) A vegetable is any part of a plant that is grown primarily for food. This includes leaves, roots, tubers, flower, and stalk. Some include fruit. Others do not. (Fruit vs. Vegetable: What’s the Difference? dictionary.com; Classification of Fruits and Vegetables – Agricultural Notes, agriculture.institute). Examples: potatoes and spinach. (2) A fruit is a mature, ripened ovary of a flowing plant. It is any edible plant structure that develops from a flower and contains seed or seeds (What’s the Difference Between a Fruit and a Vegetable? scienceinsights.org). Examples: peaches and cranberry. There are subclassifications of fruit. These include berries, citrus, drupes, melons, and pome (Fruit Groups, agclassroom.org). (3) Berries have fleshy fruit walls that surround one or more seeds and are formed from a single ovary. Fruits can have a variety of structures and textures and can contain a single seed or multiple seeds (Berry v. Fruit – Are Berries Also a Fruit – Full Truth, getsetgardening.com). “A fruit qualifies as a botanical berry if it meets three criteria: it develops from a single ovary of one flower, it contains two or more seeds, and its entire fruit wall (called the pericarp) is fleshy. (What classifies a Fruit as a Berry in Botany? scienceinsights.org). Examples: cranberry and grapes. In summary, one could say that all fruits are vegetables, but not all vegetables are fruits. One could also say that all berries are fruits, but not all fruits are berries. (4) Citrus grow on trees. They have sections inside a peel, e.g. oranges and lemons (agclassroom.org). Examples: oranges and grapefruits. (5) Drupes are fruit with a single seed inside a hard stone like pit. (ibid). Examples: cherries, peaches and plums; also walnuts, almonds, and pecans. These last three are drupes and not nuts (Nut vs Drupes: What’s the Difference? by Lee Zalben, seriouseats.com). (6) Melons are large fruit with a hard rind or exterior. The seeds are found inside (ibid). Examples: watermelons and cantaloupes. (6) Pomes hold their seeds in a paper-like core e.g., apples and pears (ibid). Examples: apples and pear. (7) There are other subcategories of fruit that could be considered, such as: aggregate fruit (e.g., strawberries and raspberries), multiple fruit (e.g., fig, pineapple and jack fruit), accessory fruit (e.g., figs, strawberries, apples, and pears). Others could be mentioned but we will leave it here. Studying God’s creation is truly fascinating.
What is the difference between nuts, legumes, and drupes? (1) A nut has a hard outer shell protecting a single seed. It does not open on its own. Examples: chestnuts and hazelnuts. (2) A legume is a pod with multiple seeds. It will start opening on its own. Examples: peanuts, peas, beans and lentils. (3) A drupe is a fruit that is pulpy on the outside, has a hard shell inside that contains one seed. Examples; walnuts, pecans (The Difference Between Nuts, Legumes, and Drupes, knowledgenuts.com).
Language and modern classifications can be very confusing. Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry are not technically berries, but fruits. In colloquial language many small, sweet fruits are often referred to as berries. A tomato is a fruit but has been classified legally as a vegetable for U.S. tariff purposes. A U.S. Supreme Court decision was made on this (Nix v. Hedden, 1893). Banana, all citrus fruit, grapes, cranberry, and cucumber may be classified as berries. Citrus is a specific type of berry. An avocado is considered by some a berry, but most consider it a drupe or stone fruit. It usually has one seed. A pomegranate is not classified as a pome, but a type of fruit that is called a balausta. The name pomeegranate is derived from Latin and meaning possibly apple (or fruit) seeded, or apple (fruit) of grenada. Colloquial language and culinary arts use the term “nut” more broadly than in botany. It is used of edible fruit or seed which comes from a hard shell. I am glad that the Bible passage above is not so confusing.
Bryan Hodge 