Proverbs 15:4 Commentary and Bible Study

How much the acceptability of our conduct depends on the way we use our tongues. The tongue, though a small organ, is immensely influential in a community and has power to foster harmony or to spread pain and division. The proverb uses health as an illustration and considers the great difference between the healing power of the tongue when used for good and the harm it can do when given over to evil. The word ‘wholesome’ means ‘healing’ or ‘cure’ and describes the tongue of someone whose words edify through kindness, sympathy, supportiveness and also truth, understanding, and if necessary honest admonition. By contrast the perverse tongue cares nothing about helping others and breaks the spirit of those whom it lashes. It deals out unjustified and hurtful criticism caring nothing about the edification of God’s people. On the other hand it is ready to flatter those who disobey God’s law because it sees some advantage coming from their favour. It engages in dishonest slander, often only with a view to boosting itself and stealing what rightfully belongs to others. When the tongue is controlled by the sinful nature it becomes perverse or crooked, making use of deceit and knowingly departing from the truth. It tries to cover its tracks so that this cannot be detected, by covering perversity with a cloak of righteousness, but the end result is that spirits are broken, and usually the spirit of the meek and the godly. These are forced to turn to God for relief when the justice of this world lets them down.