The Power of the Tongue Jan 07, 2018

AN AMAZING FACT:  The tongue isn’t really the strongest muscle in the body, as some claim. In fact, it isn’t a single muscle at all. The tongue is made up of eight different muscles; four of these attach the tongue to bone, while the other four control its shape and size. The tongue’s ability to change its shape, size, and position is an important part of speech.

In fact, the position of the tongue is so important to speech that vowels are put into categories based on the position of the tongue required to make that particular sound. For example, high vowels are vowels that require the tongue to be in a high position in the mouth. The tongue is flexible enough that the International Phonetic Alphabet recognizes seven different vowel heights—from high to mid to low—and five different categories—from front to central to back. 

Even more amazing than the tongue’s contribution to speech is the correlation between speech and the safety of the soul. Proverbs repeatedly makes the connection: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles;” “He who guards his mouth preserves his life;” and finally, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 21:23, 13:3, 18:21). James tells us that if a person could control the tongue they would be perfect—but that “no man can tame the tongue” (James 3:2, 8). Jesus tells us that “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). But there is hope! Jesus also tells us that the mouth speaks from “the abundance of the heart”—and Jesus himself is the cleanser of hearts (Matthew 12:34).

KEY BIBLE TEXTS

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9