Proverbs 10:31

“The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom, etc.] As the earth brings forth its increase, and a tree brings forth its fruit; hence speech is called the fruit of the lips; wisdom is good fruit; a good man is comparable to the fruitful earth, and to a good tree; whose mouth brings forth wise things in abundance, which are very pleasant and profitable; not worldly wisdom, much less devilish; not merely natural wisdom, but spiritual and evangelical; (see <193730>Psalm 37:30); but the froward tongue shall be cut out; or “cut down”f289; as an unprofitable tree, which brings forth nothing but perverse things; things contrary to God and good men, to truth and right reason, to the light of nature,…”

“bringeth forth--literally, "germinates" as a plant. froward--(Compare Pro 2:12, Pro 2:14). cut off--as an unproductive plant.”

“Bringeth forth ... - As a tree full of life and sap brings forth its fruit. So the “froward tongue” is like a tree that brings forth evil and not good fruit; it “shall be cut down.” The abuse of God’s gift of speech will lead ultimately to its forfeiture. There shall, at last, be the silence of shame and confusion. return to 'Top of Page'”

“mouth: Pro 10:11, Pro 10:13, Pro 10:20, Pro 10:21; Psa 37:30 the froward: Psa 31:18, Psa 63:11, Psa 120:3, Psa 120:4 Proverbs 10:32”

“For the third time the favourite theme already handled in three appendixes is taken up: The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom, And the tongue of falsehood shall be rooted up. Regarding the biblical comparison of thoughts with branches, and of words with flowers and fruits, vid., my Psychol. p. 181; and regarding the root נב (with its weaker אב), to swell up and to spring up (to well, grow, etc.), vid., what is said in the Comm. on Genesis on נביא, and in Isaiah on עוב. We use the word נוּב of that which sprouts or grows, and נבב of that which causes that something sprout; but also נוב may, after the manner of verbs of being full ( Pro 3:10), of flowing (Gesen. 138, 1, Anm. 2),…”