Proverbs 17:20
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Original Language Analysis
לֵ֭ב
heart
H3820
לֵ֭ב
heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
2 of 9
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִמְצָא
findeth
H4672
יִמְצָא
findeth
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
4 of 9
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
ט֑וֹב
no good
H2896
ט֑וֹב
no good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
5 of 9
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
וְנֶהְפָּ֥ךְ
and he that hath a perverse
H2015
וְנֶהְפָּ֥ךְ
and he that hath a perverse
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
6 of 9
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ
tongue
H3956
בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ
tongue
Strong's:
H3956
Word #:
7 of 9
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,
Historical Context
Ancient wisdom recognized heart-speech connection. Crooked hearts produced crooked words, bringing trouble. Biblical examples: Gehazi's deceitful heart and lying tongue brought leprosy (2 Kings 5:20-27), Ananias and Sapphira's fraud brought death (Acts 5:1-11). Conversely, upright hearts and honest tongues found good—Daniel's integrity brought deliverance and promotion (Daniel 6). Gospel transforms both heart and speech (2 Corinthians 5:17, Luke 6:45).
Questions for Reflection
- Does your heart's crookedness prevent you from finding good?
- How has perverse speech fallen you into evil or trouble?
- What does it mean to have God create a clean heart (Psalm 51:10) that produces wholesome speech?
Analysis & Commentary
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. Iqqesh-lev lo yimtsa-tov (עִקֶּשׁ־לֵב לֹא יִמְצָא־טוֹב, crooked of heart finds no good). Twisted hearts prevent finding blessing. Venehpakh bilshono yippol bera'ah (וְנֶהְפָּךְ בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ יִפּוֹל בְּרָעָה, and perverted in tongue falls into evil). Perverse speech brings calamity. The proverb teaches that internal crookedness (heart) and external crookedness (tongue) both produce bad outcomes. Jeremiah 17:9 declares the heart is deceitfully wicked. Only God can create clean hearts (Psalm 51:10), transforming speech (Ephesians 4:29).