Bible Dictionaries
Tongue

Holman Bible Dictionary

The organ of speech and then the language spoken (Jeremiah 5:15 ) and the people or nation speaking (Isaiah 66:18 ). The tongue was seen to express the true nature since speech was viewed as more than just a verbal phenomenon. It was seen as the expression of a person's true nature (Psalm 64:2-3; Psalm 45:1; Proverbs 10:20; Proverbs 17:20 ). The wisdom writings of the Old Testament stressed the practical results of the use of the tongue for the individual's life (Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 18:21; Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 21:23; Proverbs 25:23; Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 28:23 ). Like a bit in a horse's mouth or the rudder of a ship, the tongue could control the direction of a person's life (James 3:3-8 ). Since the tongue reveals what is in one's heart, its use had ethical consequences whether for good or bad (Psalm 34:13; Psalm 37:30; Psalm 109:2; Psalm 120:2; Psalm 140:2-3; Isaiah 59:3 ).

The tongue was seen to play a central role in the expression of a person's religious commitment. The tongue could be used to praise God (Psalm 35:28; Psalm 51:14; Psalm 71:24; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:11 ). On the other hand, the tongue could cause separation from God (Job 15:4-5; Psalm 39:1; Psalm 78:35-37 ). The potential for good or bad which is part of human nature is actualized through the tongue (James 3:9-10 ).

The word tongue is used, of course, in the basic sense of the term to refer to the organ of eating and drinking ( Judges 7:5; Isaiah 41:17 ). Tongue is, also, used figuratively to refer to objects in the material world which resemble the tongue in shape (Isaiah 11:15 ). See Spiritual Gifts; Tongues, Gift of.

Jeff Cranford