Proverbs 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Proverbs 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about saying foolish things; it highlights how our own words can actively trap us. The "snare" suggests that it's not a sudden accident, but a deliberate entanglement woven by one's own lips, leading to a downfall that's self-inflicted.
This verse is part of a larger collection within Proverbs that contrasts the ways of the wise and the foolish. It directly follows a passage about the importance of discretion and the ruin that comes from arguments, and it leads into verses emphasizing the value of a good name and the life-giving power of a wise person's words. The author is building a case for the destructive power of uncontrolled speech, especially when coming from someone lacking wisdom.
Ever felt like you've talked yourself into a corner? For the 'fool' in Proverbs, this isn't just an occasional oops, it's a way of life leading to destruction.
This verse highlights a crucial truth: our words have real power, capable of causing immense damage.
The Mouth as a Weapon
For the fool, their mouth isn't just for speaking; it's an instrument of their own downfall. Their rash, arrogant, or deceitful talk doesn't just hurt others; it actively brings about their own ruin. This ruin can be immediate – leading to arguments, broken relationships, or even legal trouble – and ultimate, impacting their eternal destiny.
Lips as a Trap
The imagery of the lips as a 'snare' is powerful. A snare is designed to catch and hold prey. Similarly, the foolish things spoken can entangle the speaker, trapping them in consequences they can't escape. They might say something in haste that binds them, or boastfully reveal something that puts their very soul in danger.
We often think of foolishness as a lack of intelligence, but Proverbs links it directly to how someone speaks. What does this tell us?
Proverbs consistently paints a picture of the 'fool' not just as someone unintelligent, but as someone who actively rejects wisdom and godly counsel. Their speech patterns are a primary indicator of this internal disposition.
The Content of Foolish Talk
What kind of talk leads to ruin and snaring the soul? It's often characterized by:
Understand the original words
mĕḥittâ · Hebrew Noun
In the context of Proverbs, this refers to the consequences of one's own spoken words. It often denotes a self-inflicted disaster resulting from unchecked speech or wicked conduct.
môqēš · Hebrew Noun
A trap or device used to catch animals, metaphorically representing something that ensnares a person in sin, danger, or destruction through their own choices or deceit.
nep̄eš · Hebrew Noun
The seat of a person's life, will, emotions, and moral character. In Hebrew thought, the soul (nephesh) represents the whole person as a living, feeling being.
This passage directly echoes Proverbs 18:7, stating that 'When words abound, transgression is not far off, but the prudent keep their lips in check,' highlighting how unchecked speech leads to trouble.
James 1:19-20James urges believers to be quick to listen and slow to speak, because 'the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God,' connecting uncontrolled speech directly to ungodly outcomes.
Matthew 12:36-37Jesus warns that 'every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for on the day of judgment, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,' emphasizing the eternal weight of our speech.
Proverbs 15:2This verse contrasts the fool's speech with the wise person's, noting that 'the tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly,' illustrating the destructive nature of foolish talk.
ellicottProverbs 18:7: "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul."
(7) A fool’s mouth is his destruction.— See above on Proverbs 12:13 .
pooleProverbs 18:7: "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This verse isn't just about saying foolish things; it highlights how our own words can actively trap us. The "snare" suggests that it's not a sudden accident, but a deliberate entanglement woven by one's own lips, leading to a downfall that's self-inflicted.
This verse is part of a larger collection within Proverbs that contrasts the ways of the wise and the foolish. It directly follows a passage about the importance of discretion and the ruin that comes from arguments, and it leads into verses emphasizing the value of a good name and the life-giving power of a wise person's words. The author is building a case for the destructive power of uncontrolled speech, especially when coming from someone lacking wisdom.
This verse is part of a larger collection within Proverbs that contrasts the ways of the wise and the foolish. It directly follows a passage about the importance of discretion and the ruin that comes from arguments, and it leads into verses emphasizing the value of a good name and the life-giving power of a wise person's words. The author is building a case for the destructive power of uncontrolled speech, especially when coming from someone lacking wisdom.
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 18:7 is available in the Sola app.
A Choice, Not Just an Accident
The verse implies that this destructive speech is not merely an accident but a consequence of the fool's chosen path. They delight in their own words, unaware or unconcerned that these very words are setting traps for themselves. This highlights that managing our speech is an essential part of walking in wisdom.
"A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul." — This verse isn't just about saying foolish things; it highlights how our own words can actively trap us. The "snare" suggests that it's not a sudden accident, but a deliberate entanglement woven by…