Proverbs 10:21

21 Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools {die for lack of sense}.

Proverbs 10:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many
Not their bodies; words are but wind, and will not feed; it is not enough to say to the distressed, "be ye warmed and filled", and give nothing; unless this can be understood of obtaining food for others by their prayers, as Jarchi interprets it: but the souls of many; these the righteous feed, by communicating the spiritual knowledge and understanding of divine things they are partakers of; by setting before them the bread of life, the honey and milk of the Gospel, they have under their tongue; and by the good counsel and advice, comforts and admonitions, they give them; see ( Jeremiah 3:15 ) ( Song of Solomon 4:11 ) ; but fools die for want of wisdom:
not a corporeal death, which is common to men of every rank and quality; wise men die even as fools; but they continue under the power of a spiritual death, for want of enlightening and quickening grace, and so die an eternal death: not for want of natural wisdom, which they may have a greater share of than those who live spiritually and eternally; but for want of spiritual wisdom and knowledge; the knowledge of Christ, and the way of life and salvation by him, and the knowledge of God in Christ; and not always for the want of the means of such wisdom and knowledge; as the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; and the Gospel, which is the wisdom of God in a mystery; but through the neglect and contempt of them: though sometimes men perish through want of the means of knowledge, and the neglect of those who should instruct them, ( Hosea 4:6 ) .

Proverbs 10:21 In-Context

19 In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

20 Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart of wickedness is {of little worth}.

21 Lips of righteousness feed many, but fools {die for lack of sense}.

22 The blessing of Yahweh makes [one] rich, and he does not increase sorrow with it.

23 [It is] like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "in the lack of heart, they die"