The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 10:11
What does Proverbs 10:11 mean?
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Proverbs 10:11
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While the righteous person's words refresh and bring life, the wicked don't just speak harmfully; their mouths conceal violence, hiding malicious intentions beneath a deceptive facade. This contrast highlights that the righteous produce life openly, whereas the wicked operate in secret malice.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb appears in the midst of a larger collection contrasting the ways of the righteous and the wicked. It's part of a series of short, pithy sayings, each highlighting a specific difference, like how the righteous prosper while the wicked are overthrown or how their treasures differ. The verses immediately before and after this one continue this pattern, painting a vivid picture of their opposing destinies and characteristics, all centered on the outflow of their lives.
What makes someone's words a 'fountain of life'? It's more than just saying nice things.
The verse uses the powerful image of a 'fountain' or 'well' for the righteous person's mouth. This isn't just about avoiding bad words; it's about a consistent, life-giving overflow. Think of a deep well that never runs dry, providing refreshment and sustenance. The words of the righteous bring health, encouragement, and spiritual vitality – not just to others, but also to themselves. Their speech nourishes, refreshes, and promotes true life, both here and for eternity.
The wicked's mouth isn't just empty; it's actively hiding something dangerous.
Unlike the open flow of the righteous, the wicked's mouth is described as being 'covered' by violence. This suggests a deliberate concealment. It's not that they have nothing to say, but what they do say (or the silence they maintain) masks their harmful intentions. Their words might seem harmless, or they might remain quiet while plotting mischief. This hidden violence is deceptive and destructive, a stark contrast to the life-giving openness of the righteous.
Understand the original words
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tsaddiyq · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Refers to one who is in a right standing with God, living in accordance with His revealed will and moral standards, characterized by integrity and obedience.
maqowr · Hebrew Noun
Metaphorically represents a source of life-giving, refreshing, and ongoing sustenance; in biblical thought, it signifies speech that brings healing, encouragement, and spiritual vitality to others.
rasha' · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Describes those who violate God’s moral order, characterized by persistent disobedience, moral rebellion, and a lack of alignment with God’s wisdom.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
Violent acts or wrongdoings that are deceitfully hidden; it represents the destructive nature of the wicked whose speech masks malicious intent.
This Psalm speaks of God being the source of living water, mirroring how the righteous man's words are described as a 'fountain of life' which refreshes and sustains others.
Jeremiah 17:13Jeremiah calls the Lord 'the fountain of living waters,' highlighting the divine source of true life and refreshment, which the righteous draw from and share.
Matthew 12:34Jesus directly links what fills the heart to what the mouth speaks, showing that the righteous person's 'fountain of life' flows from a heart filled with good, while the wicked's words reveal their inner corruption.
John 4:14Jesus offers 'living water' that becomes a spring within, a powerful parallel to the continuous, life-giving flow that comes from the mouth of the righteous.
Ephesians 4:29This verse explicitly calls believers to let 'only what is good for building up' come from their mouths, directly connecting the righteous use of speech to nourishment and life for others.
clarkeProverbs 10:11: "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life - מקור חיים mekor chaiyim, is the vein of lives; an allusion to the great aorta, which conveys the blood from the heart to every art of the body. The latter clause of this verse is the same with that of Proverbs 10:6 .
pooleProverbs 10:11: "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."
A well of life; continually sending forth waters of life, or such good and wholesome words as are very refreshing and useful, both to themselves and others, for the preserving of their natural life, and for the promoting of their spiritual and eternal life. We have the same phrase Psalm 36:9 . Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked; the same words were used before, Proverbs 10:6 ,…
While the righteous person's words refresh and bring life, the wicked don't just speak harmfully; their mouths conceal violence, hiding malicious intentions beneath a deceptive facade. This contrast highlights that the righteous produce life openly, whereas the wicked operate in secret malice.
This proverb appears in the midst of a larger collection contrasting the ways of the righteous and the wicked. It's part of a series of short, pithy sayings, each highlighting a specific difference, like how the righteous prosper while the wicked are overthrown or how their treasures differ. The verses immediately before and after this one continue this pattern, painting a vivid picture of their opposing destinies and characteristics, all centered on the outflow of their lives.
This proverb appears in the midst of a larger collection contrasting the ways of the righteous and the wicked. It's part of a series of short, pithy sayings, each highlighting a specific difference, like how the righteous prosper while the wicked are overthrown or how their treasures differ. The verses immediately before and after this one continue this pattern, painting a vivid picture of their opposing destinies and characteristics, all centered on the outflow of their lives.
"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." — While the righteous person's words refresh and bring life, the wicked don't just speak harmfully; their mouths conceal violence, hiding malicious intentions beneath a deceptive facade. This contras…
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Last reviewed October 2026