Proverbs 18:20
מִפְּרִ֣י פִי־֭אִישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנֹ֑ו תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣יו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃
Metaphor in Motion: פִּי־אִישׁ and תְּבוּאַת שְׂפָתָיו
This proverb is built on a beautifully balanced metaphor: a man’s words are compared to fruit (פְּרִי) and harvest (תְּבוּאָה). The noun פִּי־אִישׁ (“the mouth of a man”) is in construct form with פִּי (“mouth”) linking directly to אִישׁ (“man”) — meaning “the fruit of a man’s mouth.” Likewise, שְׂפָתָיו (“his lips”) is linked to תְּבוּאָה (“produce” or “yield”), extending the agricultural imagery into the realm of speech. These metaphors imply that speech, like sowing, brings real consequences — nourishment or otherwise.
Verb Structure: תִּשְׂבַּע and יִשְׂבָּע
Both verbs תִּשְׂבַּע and יִשְׂבָּע come from the root ש־ב־ע (“to be satisfied” or “to be filled”). These are Qal imperfects — the former 3rd person feminine singular (referring to בִּטְנֹו, “his belly”), and the latter 3rd person masculine singular (referring generally to the subject or belly again). In Hebrew parallelism, repetition and variation of the same verb structure enhances rhythm and intensifies the idea.
Parallel Structure: Chiastic Arrangement
The structure of the verse reflects classic Hebrew parallelism with a chiastic pattern:
- A: מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ
- B: תִּשְׂבַּע בִּטְנֹו
- B′: תְּבוּאַת שְׂפָתָיו
- A′: יִשְׂבָּע
This mirrored arrangement reinforces the core idea: what one speaks (A/A′) directly affects what one experiences or internalizes (B/B′). The internal satisfaction metaphorically reflects the consequences of one’s own words.
Parsing Table: Key Verbs and Forms in Proverbs 18:20
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| תִּשְׂבַּע | ש־ב־ע | Qal imperfect (3fs) | “It will be satisfied” — referring to his belly |
| יִשְׂבָּע | ש־ב־ע | Qal imperfect (3ms) | “He/it will be satisfied” — echoing the first line |
| פְּרִי | פ־ר־י | Noun, construct | “Fruit of” — construct form with פִּי |
| תְּבוּאַת | ב־ו־א | Noun, construct | “Produce/yield of” — metaphor for speech |
The Harvest of the Tongue
This proverb teaches that speech is not merely expressive — it is generative. Words have weight, yield, and consequence. Hebrew poetry captures this truth by weaving metaphors of agriculture into human anatomy: lips sow, mouths yield, and the belly — the seat of inner satisfaction — is filled by what one says. Biblical Hebrew grammar intensifies this message by paralleling form and function, noun and verb, to show that wisdom is not only spoken — it is tasted.
