WORDS: The Power of Death and Life (Proverbs 8:21; Galatians 6:7; Proverbs 22:6)

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof"

This would seem to be a very ominous, but powerful statement, which, if true, means that what you say, your words, [where 'the tongue' is emblematic, of speech in general], determines your future, and whether your words are producing life, or death to you.

The word 'power' actually means 'control', where some translations have "in the hand" of the tongue, or "of life and death, tongue holds the keys; use it lovingly, and it will requite thee".

'Lovingly' is usually interpreted as meaning "lavishly", but "with due reverence" may be meant.

The word 'love' is probably more properly understood as they that 'use' it, since whether one understands or does not understand the principle, in either case, the words spoken produces a harvest, or fruit, that a person reaps in their life, "for whatever a person sows, that shall they also reap" (Gal.6:7)

"Death and life are determined by the tongue" (Moffatt).

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and, when he is old, he will not depart from it" (KJV). One of most frequently quoted, but totally misunderstood scriptures regarding raising children, this scripture embodies the principle of the tongue producing life and death. 

'Train' is actually the word meaning 'initiate' or to start on a course of action, and comes from the visual imagery of the oriental custom of chewing up dates and putting them into the mouth of the infant child, to get them to begin to eat more solid food, and not just milk.

'He should go' is actually one word in the Hebrew, translated everywhere else in the O.T. as meaning 'mouth'.

A better understanding of the verse would be, "Initiate or start a child in the mouth, in the way of the mouth [learning the affect or power of their words], and even when they are old, they will never leave the principle of understanding and employing their words, to produce positive change in their life" (paraphrase).

Everyone knows, perhaps dozens of people, who were raised with good moral 'Christian' values, principles, and ethical behavior, and yet still left those godly precepts to pursue a less than admirable lifestyle. The point is that the scripture is speaking of training or initiating children to understand that their words shape their life, and if they totally grasp the effects their words can have, they will never divert from using positive words in their daily life, to produce positive results. 

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours