Bible Strands
Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The passage belongs to a collection of wisdom sayings addressed to a general audience, contrasting the speech patterns of two distinct groups.
The words — פִּי (pi) translates to "mouth" and מְקוֹר (meqor) means "fountain" or "spring." חָמָס (chamas) carries the literal sense of "violence" or "destruction."
The thread — The "fountain of life" motif reappears in Proverbs 13:14 regarding the teaching of the wise, and the righteous versus wicked contrast appears in Proverbs 10:6.
Why it lands — The text states that the righteous mouth sustains others like a spring, while the wicked mouth hides destructive intent. It requires readers to evaluate their own speech for life-giving clarity or concealed harm.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Proverbs 10:6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
- Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
- Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
- Psalms 37:30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
- Proverbs 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
- Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
- Proverbs 20:15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.