Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a crucial contrast: while the righteous person's words are a life-giving fountain, the wicked person's mouth conceals violence, suggesting their speech might even be deceptive or a cover for their harmful intentions. This isn't just about what is spoken, but also what is hidden behind the words, revealing a deliberate, active malice.
This proverb is part of a larger collection in Proverbs 10 that contrasts the ways of the righteous and the wicked. The verses immediately surrounding it offer similar comparisons, like the importance of good deeds versus wickedness and the consequences of the tongue. This particular verse builds on the idea of what flows from a person's speech, contrasting the life-giving words of the godly with the hidden malice of the ungodly.
The Bible often compares wise words to refreshing water. What makes the speech of a righteous person so life-giving?
The verse uses the powerful image of a 'fountain of life' or 'well of life' for the righteous person's words.
Continuous Refreshment
This isn't just a one-time spill, but a constant, flowing source. Think of it like a spring that never runs dry, always offering what's needed. These words bring refreshment and benefit, not just to others, but to the speaker too.
Nourishing Life
These words are described as 'waters of life' – they sustain, heal, and promote well-being. They speak truth, offer encouragement, and build others up, contributing to both our earthly and eternal life. It’s the overflow of a heart rightly aligned with God.
While the righteous speak life, the wicked's words hide a dangerous threat. What does it mean for violence to 'cover' their mouth?
The contrast to the life-giving fountain is the wicked person's mouth, which 'conceals violence.'
Hidden Danger
This doesn't necessarily mean they're always shouting threats. Instead, their words might be deceptive, manipulative, or carry an underlying hostility. Like a hidden pitfall, their speech can lead others to ruin.
A Mask for Malice
Think of it as a mask. Their words might seem harmless or even appealing, but beneath the surface, they harbor intentions of harm, injustice, or destruction. This concealed violence is ultimately self-destructive, as the schemes of the wicked often backfire.
Understand the original words
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 passage speaks of God's goodness as a source of life, much like the righteous person's words are described as a 'fountain of life'.
Jeremiah 17:13The prophet laments that the 'fountain of living waters' (God) has been forsaken, contrasting with the 'fountain of life' that flows from the righteous.
Matthew 12:34-37Jesus directly links the abundance of the heart to what the mouth speaks, highlighting how words reveal a person's inner nature, whether good or evil.
Ephesians 4:29This verse instructs believers to let their speech build others up and be a source of grace, echoing the life-giving quality of the righteous mouth described in Proverbs.
James 3:8-10James powerfully illustrates the destructive potential of the tongue, contrasting its ability to curse and bless, which parallels the Proverbs verse's depiction of harmful versus life-giving speech.
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 ,…
The verse highlights a crucial contrast: while the righteous person's words are a life-giving fountain, the wicked person's mouth conceals violence, suggesting their speech might even be deceptive or a cover for their harmful intentions. This isn't just about what is spoken, but also what is hidden behind the words, revealing a deliberate, active malice.
This proverb is part of a larger collection in Proverbs 10 that contrasts the ways of the righteous and the wicked. The verses immediately surrounding it offer similar comparisons, like the importance of good deeds versus wickedness and the consequences of the tongue. This particular verse builds on the idea of what flows from a person's speech, contrasting the life-giving words of the godly with the hidden malice of the ungodly.
This proverb is part of a larger collection in Proverbs 10 that contrasts the ways of the righteous and the wicked. The verses immediately surrounding it offer similar comparisons, like the importance of good deeds versus wickedness and the consequences of the tongue. This particular verse builds on the idea of what flows from a person's speech, contrasting the life-giving words of the godly with the hidden malice of the ungodly.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Proverbs 10:11 is available in the Sola app.
"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." — The verse highlights a crucial contrast: while the righteous person's words are a life-giving fountain, the wicked person's mouth conceals violence, suggesting their speech might even be deceptive…
