Proverbs 12:13
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips:
But the just shall come out of trouble.
The Hebrew text of this Proverb reveals a very strong subtlety. Bear with me a moment while I try to convey it to you in English. The Semitic word used for ‘transgression’ is: ‘peshah’: transgression, revolt. Its etymological root is ‘pesh’: step, spreading, as in spreading apart of legs. Therefore this word ‘pesha’ means: transgression, or rebellion by the spreading apart of legs, by letting go of the restraints of morality. In this proverb, the particular word ‘peshah’ is used as ‘rebellion by the spreading apart of the lips’ meaning ‘ungodly reprobate speech’, thus giving the meaning of’ the wicked is snared by his own ungodly reprobate speech’.
To compare the sin of the lips with the sin of immorality seems quite appropriate. Paul teaches us that any sin is outside of the body, but that the sin of fornication is against our body. In the same way, this proverbs tells us that the reprobate ensnares his own self through the spreading apart of his own lips when he speaks, but that the just, by the keeping of what comes out of his lips, comes out of trouble.
Much of Proverbs deals with the subject of speech. The apostle James tells us that the tongue is an unruly evil enflamed of hell. Our dear Lord and Master Yehoshuah taught us that by our words we shall be justified and by our words wee shall be condemned. If sometimes we have difficulty discerning the integrity of a preacher, speaker or politicien, all we have to do is let him or her speak; they eventually will ensnare themselves in their own words.
As followers of God, to stay out of trouble, we are instructed that our words should be few; to be quick to listen and slow to speak; that our speech should be always seasoned with salt (palatable); and that as teachers, we should speak as the oracles of God (to speak only when spoken through).
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips:
But the just shall come out of trouble.
The Hebrew text of this Proverb reveals a very strong subtlety. Bear with me a moment while I try to convey it to you in English. The Semitic word used for ‘transgression’ is: ‘peshah’: transgression, revolt. Its etymological root is ‘pesh’: step, spreading, as in spreading apart of legs. Therefore this word ‘pesha’ means: transgression, or rebellion by the spreading apart of legs, by letting go of the restraints of morality. In this proverb, the particular word ‘peshah’ is used as ‘rebellion by the spreading apart of the lips’ meaning ‘ungodly reprobate speech’, thus giving the meaning of’ the wicked is snared by his own ungodly reprobate speech’.
To compare the sin of the lips with the sin of immorality seems quite appropriate. Paul teaches us that any sin is outside of the body, but that the sin of fornication is against our body. In the same way, this proverbs tells us that the reprobate ensnares his own self through the spreading apart of his own lips when he speaks, but that the just, by the keeping of what comes out of his lips, comes out of trouble.
Much of Proverbs deals with the subject of speech. The apostle James tells us that the tongue is an unruly evil enflamed of hell. Our dear Lord and Master Yehoshuah taught us that by our words we shall be justified and by our words wee shall be condemned. If sometimes we have difficulty discerning the integrity of a preacher, speaker or politicien, all we have to do is let him or her speak; they eventually will ensnare themselves in their own words.
As followers of God, to stay out of trouble, we are instructed that our words should be few; to be quick to listen and slow to speak; that our speech should be always seasoned with salt (palatable); and that as teachers, we should speak as the oracles of God (to speak only when spoken through).
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