Bible Strands
Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom collection addresses a general audience, placing this contrast within a sequence of daily observations on speech and conduct.
The words — צַדִּיק (Tza.dik) translates literally to "righteous," while the phrase בַּחֲסַר לֵב combines "lack of" with "heart" to denote a deficiency of discernment.
The thread — The text's claim that ignorance leads to destruction runs directly into Hosea 4:6 and Proverbs 1:29, while Proverbs 17:16 records the parallel warning against the fool's misplaced pursuit of wisdom.
Why it lands — The text states that righteous speech sustains communities and foolish silence causes death, requiring readers to actively choose sound counsel over indifference to avoid spiritual ruin.
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 lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Cross-references
- Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
- Proverbs 17:16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
- Proverbs 1:29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
- Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
- Job 4:3 Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
- Ecclesiastes 12:9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
- Job 23:12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
- Proverbs 5:12 and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
- Proverbs 5:23 He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.
- Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.