Your Words Can Be A Snare

Proverbs 6:2 says: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken (or caught) with the words of thy mouth. (KJV) Hebraic thought places great emphasis on the power of words. When Jacob stole his brother's blessing from their father Isaac, there was nothing that could be done about it. When it was discovered by Isaac, he said: Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, "Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? --yes, and he shall be blessed." (RSV) Once the words of blessing were spoken, even though lies and deceit were the foundation of receiving them, they could not be rescinded. That is the power of Hebraic speech.

The Hebrew word for "snared" is yaqash and it always refers figuratively to the catching of a person or people in an undesirable situation. Your words can place you in a good or bad situation. The Hebrew word for "words" is emer and it means "word, speech, saying. The primary meaning is something said." The passage is not speaking of what you think; it speaks of what it is said. Your thoughts may not snare you, but your words will. Many times in business, I will watch a sales representative talk a possible sale into failure. "I just know that they are going to back out." "What if something goes wrong with the financing?" These type of negative comments create a snare for that which you do not desire to actually manifest itself in reality. Words need to be carefully chosen to bring about the desired end.

Words have real power in Hebraic thought. They can snare you, or they can be a source of blessing to you. The choice is yours. The best words to speak are those from the Scriptures. You will not fall into error by saying God's will on a subject. His Word is His will. It has been made plain and simple for us. Let us not neglect His ways and will for ours.