לָשׁוֹן

From the study of Proverbs 12:18

Range of meaning

The physical tongue; speech; a language. In wisdom literature it stands for a person's characteristic speech.

Against the English

All versions keep 'tongue' except NLT ('words'), which is a fair paraphrase.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 10:20 'the tongue of the righteous is choice silver'; 15:4 'a healing tongue is a tree of life'; 18:21 'death and life are in the power of the tongue'; Ps 57:4 [5 Heb.] 'their tongue a sharp sword'.

From the study of Proverbs 16:1

Range of meaning

Tongue as a body part. By extension it means speech, the way someone talks, and language (as in 'every tongue', meaning every nation). Proverbs is full of the tongue's power: 'death and life are in the power of the tongue' (18:21), 'a gentle tongue is a tree of life' (15:4), 'a soft tongue breaks a bone' (25:15).

Against the English

English versions keep 'tongue', which keeps the concrete picture. NLT drops it ('gives the right answer') and so loses the contrast between the inner heart and the outer tongue.

Used elsewhere in the period

The pairing of heart and tongue or lips appears often in Proverbs (e.g., 16:23, 'the heart of the wise makes his mouth prudent').

From the study of Proverbs 18:21

Range of meaning

The physical tongue. Then speech and the way one talks. Then a language or people group ("every tongue"). Also tongue-shaped things such as a bay or a flame. In Proverbs it almost always means speech as a moral act.

Against the English

"Tongue" is accurate. The only thing a modern reader may miss is how much ground it covers: legal testimony, counsel, rebuke, teaching, slander, flattery, lies and gentle answers are all "the tongue."

Used elsewhere in the period

Proverbs has a full set of sayings about the tongue. A truthful tongue lasts while a lying one is gone in a moment (12:19). "The tongue of the wise brings healing" (12:18). "A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perversity in it crushes the spirit" (15:4). A soft tongue breaks a bone (25:15). Whoever guards mouth and tongue guards his life from trouble (21:23). Other ancient Near Eastern wisdom, such as the Aramaic sayings of Ahiqar and Egyptian books of instruction, also warns at length that the tongue can wound or save.