What Does Proverbs 31:26 Mean in the King James?
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Her tongue carries a way of faithful love, so kindness is the instruction her wisdom gives.
THE MEANING
Wisdom opens the mouth, and faithful love gives the tongue its instruction. Kindness here is durable care, not merely a pleasant tone; it is love taking shape in speech.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that kindness is only a soft tone: here it is faithful love with a formed instruction, carried in speech.
THE ROOT
חֶסֶד
chesed
GROWS FROM
ח־ס־ד
Faithful, loyal love expressed as care.
The Hebrew word rendered “kindness” carries the sense of steady, faithful love. The tongue is not just pleasant; it expresses a care that can be relied on.
ALSO GROWS
chasid: A faithful or loyal person.
חָסִיד
The related word describes a person by the quality of loyalty, showing how chesed can mark a nature as well as an act.
chasadim: Deeds or expressions of faithful love.
חֲסָדִים
The plural gives faithful love many expressions, making the tongue’s kindness something lived out in words.
תּוֹרַת
torat
GROWS FROM
י־ר־ה
To direct, teach, or point the way.
The phrase is literally an instruction of chesed: faithful love has a direction that can be taught. English “law” can sound like a rule imposed from outside, while the Hebrew also carries the sense of guidance that shapes how the tongue speaks.
ALSO GROWS
yarah: To teach or direct.
יָרָה
This verbal branch makes the tongue’s kindness active guidance, not just a gentle sound.
moreh: A teacher or instructor.
מוֹרֶה
The related word for a teacher shows how speech can pass on the way of faithful love.
THE PATTERN
Speech becomes wise care when faithful guidance shapes what the mouth releases.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.THE THREAD
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:The Hebrew word translated “mercy” here is chesed, the same word rendered “kindness” in Proverbs 31:26. In this verse chesed is written on the heart; there, it takes form as instruction on the tongue.
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