SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:8
¶ Las palabras del chismoso parecen blandas, mas ellas descienden hasta lo íntimo del vientre.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:8
Verse 8. The words of a tale-bearer ] grn yrbd dibrey nirgan, "the words of the whisperer," the busy-body, the busy, meddling croaker. Verba bilinguis, "the words of the double-tongued." ] Vulgate. "The wordes of the twisel tunge". - Old MS. Bible. "The words of a slanderer." - Coverdale.
The words of a deceiver, the fair-spoken, deeply-malicious man, though they appear soft and gracious, are wounds deeply injurious.
The original word is µymhltmk kemithlahamim; they are as soft or simple, or undesigning. But Schultens gives another meaning. He observes that lahamah in Arabic signifies to "swallow down quickly or greedily." Such words are like dainties, eagerly swallowed, because inviting to the taste; like gingerbread, apparently gilded over, though with Dutch leaf, which is a preparation of copper; or sweetmeats powdered over with red candied seeds, which are thus formed by red lead; both deeply ruinous to the tender bowels of the poor little innocents, but, because of their sweetness and inviting colour, greedily swallowed down. This makes a good reading, and agrees with the latter clause of the verse, "they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds , etc.] Or rather they are wounds; they wound the credit and reputation of the person of whom the tale is told; they wound the person to whom it is told, and destroy his love and affection to his friend; and in the issue they wound, hurt, and ruin the talebearer himself. Or, they are “as of those that are wounded” f518 ; they pretend to be affected with the case they tell, and to be grieved for the failings and infirmities of those they are secretly exposing, when at the same time they rejoice at them: or, they are “secret” hidden ones, as Aben Ezra interprets it; they are spoken secretly, and wound secretly, in a backbiting way: or, they are “smooth” or flattering f519 , as Kimchi; they are smoother than oil, and glide easily into the minds of others: rather, “are greedily swallowed down” f520 , as the word in the Arabic language signifies; as Schultens has shown, and so renders it. Hence it follows: and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly ; go down pleasantly, and sink deep into the hearts of those to whom they are told; where they have a place and remain, both to the injury of the persons that receive them, and of them of whom they are told; and, though pleasing at first, they are as wounds in the inner parts, which are mortal.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8 - How base are those that sow contention! and what fatal effects may be expected from small beginnings of jealousy!
Original Hebrew
דברי 1697 נרגן 5372 כמתלהמים 3859 והם 1992 ירדו 3381 חדרי 2315 בטן׃ 990
