Consider the scriptures
#7 – Proverbs 18:20
Proverbs 18:20
A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
I examined Proverbs 18:21 in my last study and I encourage you to read that before reading this study if possible.
While this scripture comes before that scripture in the Bible, I believe these two scriptures are joined together and each can teach us valuable lessons about the importance of controlling and filtering the words we say.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
The word “belly” here can mean “stomach” or “lower abdomen” and less commonly, it can mean the innermost parts of a person.
It also means “uterus” or “womb”.
Consider that our words bring to birth life or death in us at the core of our being.
James 1:13-15 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
The things that are conceived inside of us can bring forth sin and then eventually death in the end.
While lust is conceived in the mind, I believe that if the word “belly” here is referring to a uterus or womb, it means that our words also can conceive things within us that bring forth sin and death or life.
The word “satisfied” here means having sufficient supply, not abundance, but just enough to be full.
The two parts of this scripture may sound like it is saying the same thing twice with different wording, but it is actually expressing two different thoughts.
“A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth”
The word “fruit” here is feminine and yet it is referring to a masculine belly.
Men would sometimes use the term “belly” to say that children came from them.
“Fruit” here can mean the result of something or the consequence of something, but it can also refer to children.
So, there is this concept of our words birthing either good or bad within us in the first part of this scripture.
”And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.”
Increase here can be referring to the gain or yield from the grain on the threshing floor or the wine of the winepress.
Metaphorically, “produce” here can mean that a man must live by his words either good or bad and the results they bring.
If gain comes from gainful work, then the fruit received is good and profitable, but the gain can also refer to the profit of the wicked which leads to sin.
This dynamic of birthing good and bad and either receiving a blessing by it, such as children are, or receiving the offspring of sin is something for us to consider.
Our words have consequences, so let us all consider what we say carefully and prayerfully each day.