Speech, power and significance of

A person's speech has an enormous influence for good or ill and is a sure guide to character.

The impact of speech

It has the power of life and death

Proverbs 18:21; James 3:1–12 See also Proverbs 15:2, Proverbs 15:4

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

It can bring ruin or joy to the speaker

Proverbs 12:13–14 See also Psalm 140:9; Proverbs 10:14, Proverbs 13:3, Proverbs 14:3, Proverbs 18:6–7, Proverbs 18:20, Proverbs 21:23; Ecclesiastes 10:12–14

An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble. By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.

It can destroy others

Proverbs 11:9 See also Job 19:2; Psalm 55:20–21, Psalm 57:4, Psalm 64:3–4, Psalm 140:3; Proverbs 11:11, Proverbs 12:6, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 16:27

With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

It can bring life to others

Proverbs 10:11 See also Proverbs 10:20–21, Proverbs 10:31–32, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 16:23–24, Proverbs 25:12; Isaiah 50:4; Ephesians 4:29

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The timing of speech

There is an appropriate time for speaking

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 See also Proverbs 15:23, Proverbs 15:28, Proverbs 25:11–12

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

There is an appropriate time for silence

Proverbs 11:12–13 See also 1 Samuel 10:27; Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:27–28, Proverbs 21:23, Proverbs 26:4; Ecclesiastes 5:2–3; Amos 5:13; Habakkuk 2:20; Zephaniah 1:7; James 1:19

Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent. A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

Spoken witness produces faith

Romans 10:17 See also Isaiah 50:4; Acts 2:40–41, Acts 28:23–24; 1 Peter 3:15

Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Jesus Christ was silent before his accusers

1 Peter 2:22–23 See also Matthew 26:63 parallel Mark 14:61; Matthew 27:14 parallel Mark 15:5; Luke 23:9; John 19:8–9

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Speech is an expression of a person's character

Matthew 12:34–37 See also Psalm 5:9, Psalm 15:1–5; Matthew 15:10–20 parallel Mark 7:14–23; Luke 6:45; James 1:26; Revelation 14:5

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”