King James Version

Proverbs 18:4

The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

מַ֣יִםmayimwaterמַיִםnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “water”, the ordinary formH4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen[phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).עֲ֭מֻקִּיםamuqimdeepעָמֹקadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “deep”, the ordinary formH6013deep (literally or figuratively)([idiom] exceeding) deep (thing).דִּבְרֵ֣יdivrecauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…פִיfiedgeפֶּהnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “edge”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according toaccord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] s…אִ֑ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “a certain”, the ordinary formH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…נַ֥חַלnachalbrookנַחַלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “brook”, the ordinary formH5158a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)brook, flood, river, stream, valley.נֹ֝בֵ֗עַnoveautterנָבַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “utter”, a verb used as a describing wordH5042to gush forth; figuratively, to utter (good or bad words); specifically, to emit (a foul odor)belch out, flowing, pour out, send forth, utter (abundantly).מְק֣וֹרmeqorfountainמָקוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “fountain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4726properly, something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)fountain, issue, spring, well(-spring).חָכְמָֽהchakhemahwisdomחׇכְמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “wisdom”, the ordinary formH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; a flowing brook, a fountain of wisdom.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

Young’s Literal Translation

Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.

World English Bible

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

Darby Translation

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.

Douay-Rheims

Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; a flowing brook, a fountain of wisdom.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὕδωρ βαθὺ λόγος ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρὸς, ποταμὸς δὲ ἀναπηδύει καὶ πηγὴ ζωῆς.