88Tongue

lashon — Hebrew

The tongue is evidence that justifies or condemns — the instrument of testimony whose words are entered on the record and weighed. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21); “by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). The tongue’s speech is legal testimony: what it declares can acquit or convict, bless or curse, and it is held accountable. A ‘lying tongue’ is a false witness (Proverbs 6:17), an abomination because it corrupts the evidence. To bridle the tongue is to guard one’s testimony; what the tongue speaks is entered as evidence, and by it one is judged.

The Root

lashon (H3956) — the tongue; the instrument of speech and testimony.

The Courtroom Word

A testimony term — speech entered as evidence that acquits or condemns.

Its Role in the Court

What the tongue speaks is evidence, weighed and held accountable. ‘By thy words thou shalt be justified... condemned’: the tongue’s testimony can acquit or convict. A lying tongue is a false witness, corrupting the record; a faithful tongue testifies true. Death and life are in its power because its words are entered as evidence. To guard the tongue is to guard one’s testimony — for by it the verdict is shaped.

Proof Texts

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The weight of its testimony.

Matthew 12:37 “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Speech as evidence for the verdict.

Proverbs 6:17 “A lying tongue... doth Yahuah hate.” The false witness condemned.

James 3:6 “The tongue is a fire.” The tongue’s power, held accountable.

In Plain Terms

The tongue is evidence that justifies or condemns — the instrument of testimony whose words are entered on the record. ‘By thy words thou shalt be justified... condemned.’ A lying tongue is a false witness. What the tongue speaks can acquit or convict, and it is held accountable. To guard your tongue is to guard your testimony.

Bring It Home

What you say is entered as evidence. ‘By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned’ — the tongue’s speech is testimony, weighed at the bench. A lying tongue is a false witness, an abomination. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue’ because its words go on the record, and by them you are judged.

Courtroom Roles

The speaker (the witness) whose tongue enters testimony on the record.
The tongue (the instrument) whose words acquit or condemn.
Yahuah (the Judge) who weighs the words as evidence.

Where It Sits

IThere Is a Court

IIThe Court Runs on One Code

IIIYou Are Named on the Docket

IVThe Acquittal

VYour Life Is the Testing

VIIt Is All Entered as Evidence

VIIThe Bench Convenes

Movement VI — It Is All Entered as Evidence. Word, deed, and blood — every step of the walk is deposed and filed. Nothing falls off the record.