Read & explore together
No slander or secret speech escapes divine hearing
This passage warns that words are never small or hidden from God. It links speech with the heart, showing that blasphemy, murmuring, slander and lying all matter because God truly knows and hears people.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In Wisdom of Solomon 1:6–11, the writer speaks in wisdom teaching rather than telling a story. The passage describes wisdom, the spirit of the Lord, God’s witness of a person’s inner self, and Justice bringing words and lawless deeds into conviction.
Wisdom of Solomon 1:6–11Main takeaway
This passage teaches that God hears both open and secret speech, so people should turn away from slander, murmuring and lies.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Wisdom and God know the inner personVerse 6 says wisdom is “a spirit who loves man”, yet she does not excuse a blasphemer. The reason is not only the spoken lips.
Explanation
Verse 6 says wisdom is “a spirit who loves man”, yet she does not excuse a blasphemer. The reason is not only the spoken lips. God is called witness of the inmost self, overseer of the heart, and hearer of the tongue. Speech and the inner life belong together in this warning.
02Nothing spoken is outside the Lord’s knowledgeVerse 7 widens the picture from one person to the whole world. The spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and the one who holds all things together knows what is said.
Explanation
Verse 7 widens the picture from one person to the whole world. The spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and the one who holds all things together knows what is said. This means speech is not hidden by distance, secrecy or the number of people involved.
03Unrighteous words lead to convictionVerses 8 and 9 say that unrighteous speech will not be unseen. Justice does not pass by when it convicts.
Explanation
Verses 8 and 9 say that unrighteous speech will not be unseen. Justice does not pass by when it convicts. The ungodly will be searched out in their counsels, and even the sound of their words comes before the Lord. The passage treats words as morally serious, not weightless.
04Beware murmuring, slander and liesVerses 10 and 11 move from description to command. A “jealous ear” listens to all things, and murmurings are not hidden.
Explanation
Verses 10 and 11 move from description to command. A “jealous ear” listens to all things, and murmurings are not hidden. So the reader is told to avoid unprofitable murmuring and keep the tongue from slander. Even secret words do not vanish, and a lying mouth destroys a soul.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What titles or roles in verse 6 show how fully God knows a person?
List the phrases in the verse itself: witness of the inmost self, overseer of the heart, and hearer of the tongue.
02How does verse 7 explain why no speech is hidden?
Notice that the spirit of the Lord has filled the world and that the one who holds all things together knows what is said.
03Which kinds of speech are directly warned against in verses 10 and 11?
Look for the named examples and the command: murmurings, slander, secret utterance and a lying mouth.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Wisdom of Solomon 1:6–11
6For wisdom is a spirit who loves man, and she will not hold a blasphemer guiltless for his lips, because God is witness of his inmost self, and is a true overseer of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
7Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said.
8Therefore no one who utters unrighteous things will be unseen; neither will Justice, when it convicts, pass him by.
9For in his counsels the ungodly will be searched out, and the sound of his words will come to the Lord to bring his lawless deeds to conviction;
10because a jealous ear listens to all things, and the noise of murmurings is not hidden.
11Beware then of unprofitable murmuring, and keep your tongue from slander; because no secret utterance will go on its way void, and a lying mouth destroys a soul.