Put away from you a froward mouth,
And perverse lips put far from you.
As it is out of the heart’s abundance that the mouth speaks, mouth and heart are here intimately connected. A froward mouth and perverse lips bespeak one who is not in subjection to God. Where His Word has its place in the soul, the lips manifest it.
A froward mouth in the Bible refers to speech that is perverse, crooked, stubborn, or deliberately disobedient to God’s truth and moral laws.
Key Meanings and Characteristics
- Stubborn Resistance: The word “froward” comes from an old term meaning “turned away”. A froward mouth belongs to someone unwilling to yield to guidance, correction, or divine authority.
- Twisted or Distorted Speech: It describes words that twist what is good, honest, and right into something false, deceitful, or malicious.
- Source of the Heart: According to biblical teaching, the mouth reveals what is inside the heart. A froward mouth stems from a froward, rebellious heart that devises mischief and sows discord.
- God’s View: Scripture notes that a froward mouth or heart is an abomination to the Lord, separating a person from divine favor and leading to moral and spiritual ruin.
(Commentary by H.A. Ironside)