Original Word: לָשׁוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: lashown
Pronunciation: lah-SHON
Phonetic Spelling: (law-shone')
KJV: + babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge
NASB: tongue, language, tongues, bay, bar, languages, speech
Word Origin: [from H3960 (לָשַׁן - slander)]

1. the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)

babbler, evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge

Or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah {lesh-o-naw'}; from lashan; the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water) -- + babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge.

see HEBREW lashan

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
tongue
NASB Translation
bar (2), bark* (1), bay (3), charmer* (1), language (14), languages (2), slanderer* (1), speech (1), tongue (84), tongues (5), word (1).

לָשׁוֺן noun masculine^{Josh 7:21} and (more often) feminine^{Isaiah 28:11} tongue (Late Hebrew id.; also Assyrian lišânu; Arabic ; Ethiopic ; Aramaic לִשָּׁן, לִישָּׁן, (all li-); Zinjirli לשן DHM^{Sendsch. 59}); — absolute ׳ל Exodus 4:10 +; הַלָּשֹׁן Joshua 15:2; construct לְשׁוֺן Joshua 7:21 +; suffix לְשׁוֺנִי 2 Samuel 23:2; לְשֹׁנוֺ Exodus 11:7 2t.; לְשׁוֺנוֺ Judges 7:5; Esther 1:22; לְשׁוֺנְךָ Psalm 34:14; לְשׁוֺנְכֶם Isaiah 59:3, etc.; plural לְשֹׁנוֺת absolute Psalm 31:21; Isaiah 66:18; construct Zechariah 8:23; suffix לְשֹׁנֹתָם Genesis 10:20,31; —

1 tongue of men,

a. used in lapping Judges 7:5; cleaving to the palate (חֵק), in thirst Lamentations 4:4, so as to produce dumbness Job 29:10 ("" קוֺל נֶחְבָּא), Psalm 137:6; Ezekiel 3:26 ("" נֶאֱלַם); cleaving to jaws (מַלְקוֺחַ) Psalm 22:16; בַּצָּמָא נָשָׁ֑תָּה ׳ל Isaiah 41:17 their tongue for thirst is parched; תִּמַּק בְּפִיהֶם ׳לְ Zechariah 14:12 (of ׳יs judgment); a choice morsel is held ׳תַּחַת ל Job 20:12 (figurative of mischief), compare Psalm 10:7 (ready to be uttered), Psalm 66:17 ("" מֶּה), Songs 4:11.

b. usually as organ of speech, both good and bad (especially Psalms, Proverbs, often "" מֶּה, שָׂפָה); — ׳כְּבַד ל Exodus 4:10 (J) heavy of tongue; ׳מַעֲנֵה ל Proverbs 16:1, מִלָּתוֺ עַללְֿשׁוֺנִי 2 Samuel 23:2, compare Proverbs 31:26; Psalm 139:4 (׳בִּל), הֲיֵשׁ בִּלְשׁוֺנִי עַוְלָה Job 6:30; ׳מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד ל Proverbs 18:21, compare Proverbs 21:23; Proverbs 25:15; of (false) prophets, ׳הַלֹּקְהִים ל Jeremiah 23:31; subject of verb of speaking, בֶּר Di — בִחִכִּי דִּבְּרָה לְשׁוֺנִי Job 33:2; Psalm 12:4; Psalm 37:30; compare (Jeremiah 9:7 below and) ֗֗֗ תְּמַהֵר ׳ל לְדַבֵּר Isaiah 32:4, לְשׁוֺנִי עֵט סֹפֵר מָהִיר Psalm 45:2, i.e. as swift as a rapid scribe's stylus; subject of הָגָה Isaiah 59:3; Job 27:4; Psalm 35:28; Psalm 71:24; subject of נִשְׁבַּע Isaiah 45:23; תִּהַלַךְ בָּאָרֶץ ׳ל Psalm 73:9; of hostile speech, insolence, etc., Joshua 10:21 (J E; object of I. חָרַץ q. v., compare

3 below), Jeremiah 18:18; Isaiah 3:8; ׳זַעַם ל Hosea 7:16 (but text dubious, compare We Now), חֶרֶב חַדָּה ׳ל Psalm 57:6, compare Psalm 64:4; כְּמוֺ ׳נָחָשׁ שָֽׁנְנוּ ל Psalm 140:4; תָּקוּם אִתָּךְ ׳כָּללֿ Isaiah 54:17; ׳הֶאֱרִיךְ ל Isaiah 57:4; further, Jeremiah 9:2; Jeremiah 9:4; as instrument of seductive flattery (הֶחֱלִיק), without בְּ, Psalm 5:10; Proverbs 28:33, compare ׳נָכְרִיָּה חֶלְקַת לָ Proverbs 6:24;. of falsehood Psalm 78:36 (compare below); of slander (compare לושֵׁן) ׳רָגַל עַללֿ Psalm 15:3, אִישׁ לָשׁוֺןPsalm 140:12, compare סָ֑תֶר ׳לְ Proverbs 25:33; ׳חָטָא בְּל Psalm 39:2; compare Psalm 64:9 (text dubious, see Hup Che Bae); moral qualities ascribed to: — as arrogant Psalm 12:5 (compare Psalm 12:4 above); as devising injuries, ׳הַוּוֺת תַּחְשֹׁב ל Psalm 52:4, compare הַוֺת ׳לְ Proverbs 17:4; תַּצְמִיד מִרְמָה ׳ל Psalm 50:19 nectere fraudem; ׳מֵרָ֑ע נְצֹר ל Psalm 34:14 ׅ "" (וּשְׂפָתֶיךָ מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה; often of lying tongue: לְשׁוֺן שֶׁקֶר Proverbs 6:17; Proverbs 12:19; Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 26:28; Psalm 109:2; מִרְמָה ׳לְ Psalm 52:6; רְמִיָּה ׳לָ Micah 6:12; Psalm 120:2; Psalm 120:3; תַּרְמִית ׳לְ Zephaniah 3:13; תַּהְמֻּכוֺת ׳לְ Proverbs 10:31, and ׳נֶהְמָּךְ בִּל Proverbs 17:20; עֲרוּמִים׳ל Job 15:5; also מִרְמָה דִּבֵּ֑ר ׳ל Jeremiah 9:7; on the other hand צַדִּיק ׳לְ Proverbs 10:20; חֲכָמִים ׳ל Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 15:2; ׳מַרְמֵּה לָ Proverbs 15:4; לִמּוּדִים ׳לְ Isaiah 50:4. — Note phrases ׳שׁוֺט ל Job 5:21 scourge of (the) tongue, רִיב לְשֹׁנוֺת Psalm 31:21; מַּלַּג לְשׁוֺנָם Psalm 55:10: also ׳בַּעַל הַלּ Ecclesiastes 10:11 (of serpent-charmer), and ׳וַתֵּעֲלוּ עַלשְֿׂפַת ל Ezekiel 36:3. — On tongue of ׳י (once), see 4 below

c. organ of singing, subject of רָנַן Psalm 51:16; Psalm 126:2; Isaiah 35:6, עָנָה Psalm 119:172.

2 = language Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 5:15 and later, namely: Ezekiel 3:5,6 (׳כִּבְדֵי ל, "" עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה, but strike out ᵐ5 Manuscripts Co Sgfr^KauAT), Isaiah 28:11 ("" אַחֶרֶת ׳ל, לַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה, figurative of ׳יs unintelligible dealings); ׳עַם ֗֗֗ נִלְעַג ל Isaiah 33:19 ("" עִמְקֵי שָׂפָה); Isaiah 66:18 ("" גּוֺיִם), Zechariah 8:23; Genesis 10:5,20,31 (all P), Nehemiah 13:24; Esther 1:22 (twice in verse); Esther 3:12; Esther 8:9 (twice in verse); Daniel 1:4.

3 tongue of animals: dog Exodus 11:7 (J; object of I. חָרַץ q. v.; compare 1b), Psalm 68:24; adder Job 20:16 (subjectof תַּהֲרֹג); crocodile Job 40:25.

4 tongue of fire, devouring, כֶּאֱכֹל קַשׁ לְשׁוֺן אֵשׁ Isaiah 5:24; compare of ׳י, וּלְשׁוֺנוֺ כְּאֵשׁ אֹכָ֑לֶת Isaiah 30:27 ("" שְׂפָתָיו מָֽלְאוּ זַעַם).

5 = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold Joshua 7:21,24 (JE). **So Assyrian lišânu; see Meissn^{ZAW xxlii {1905}, 151 f.} Johns^{Assyrian Deeds 2, 281}.

6 = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea Isaiah 11:15; Joshua 15:2,5; Joshua 18:19 (all P).

לִשָּׁן noun masculine^{Daniel 3:7} tongue (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew לָשׁוֺן, √ לשׁן ); — tongue = language, figurative for people: absolute ׳עַם אֻמָּה וְל Daniel 3:29; plural emphatic וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא ׳א ׳ע Daniel 3:4; Daniel 3:7; Daniel 4:31; Daniel 5:19; Daniel 6:26; Daniel 7:14 (compare Biblical Hebrew לָשׁוֺן

2, Isaiah 66:18).

מָא see מָה. below

Primary Sense and Range of Imagery

לָשׁוֹן (lashon) is used roughly 117 times in the Old Testament. While its literal meaning is the human tongue, Scripture applies the term to speech, language, geography, and even precious metal, weaving a comprehensive theology of words, identity, and divine rule.

Physical Organ and Instrument of Speech

• Ordinary activity: “Everyone who laps water with his tongue as a dog laps” (Judges 7:5).
• Suffering and thirst: “My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth” (Psalm 22:15; Lamentations 4:4).

These passages ground later moral instruction in concrete human experience.

Moral Dimension: Tongue as Agent of Blessing or Curse

• “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
• “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech” (Psalm 34:13).
• “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20), yet “Your tongue devises destruction” (Psalm 52:2).

Wisdom and prophetic books present the tongue as a decisive indicator of the heart, with profound relational and covenantal consequences.

Language and Ethnic Identity

• Babel’s aftermath: nations spread “according to their languages” (Genesis 10:5, 20, 31).
• Warning of invasion: “a nation whose language you will not understand” (Deuteronomy 28:49).
• Exilic context: Daniel is taught “the language of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4).
• Eschatological hope: “All nations and tongues” gather to see God’s glory (Isaiah 66:18); “I will restore pure speech to the peoples” (Zephaniah 3:9).

The term underscores both division and the coming unity of the nations in worship.

Geographical and Material Metaphors

• “The tongue of the Egyptian Sea” (Isaiah 11:15) and coastal “tongues” (Joshua 15:2) describe narrow projections of water or land.
• A “bar of gold” (Joshua 7:21) is literally a “tongue of gold,” showing the word’s application to shape and appearance.

Divine Judgment and Deliverance

• Judgment: “Their tongues will rot in their mouths” (Zechariah 14:12); “The LORD will cut off … the tongue that speaks proud things” (Psalm 12:3–4).
• Protection: “Against the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl with its tongue” (Exodus 11:7); “You will refute every tongue that accuses you” (Isaiah 54:17).

The tongue becomes both the instrument judged and the oracle vindicating God’s people.

Prophetic and Messianic Overtones

• Servant of the LORD: “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples” (Isaiah 50:4) anticipates Christ’s teaching ministry.
• Universal confession: “To Me every knee will bow, every tongue will confess” (Isaiah 45:23), later applied to Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10–11).

These texts link lashon to the ultimate acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty in the Messiah.

Practical Ministry Application

1. Guarded Speech: Proverbs 21:23 guides pastoral exhortation toward disciplined communication.
2. Cross-cultural Mission: The “tongues” of nations point to evangelism that embraces linguistic diversity (Acts 2 echoes).
3. Worship and Counseling: The same organ that curses can bless; worship leaders and counselors alike harness this tension to shape congregational life.
4. Apologetics: Isaiah 54:17 encourages believers to answer hostile tongues with truth and confidence.

Selected Key References

Genesis 10:5, 20, 31; Exodus 11:7; Deuteronomy 28:49; Joshua 7:21; Judges 7:5; Psalm 12:3–4; 22:15; 34:13; 52:2; Proverbs 10:20; 15:4; 18:21; 21:23; Isaiah 11:15; 45:23; 50:4; 54:17; 66:18; Jeremiah 9:5; Daniel 1:4; Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 14:12.

See Also

Speech; Language; Slander; Confession; Nations

בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ בִּלְשֽׁוֹנִי׃ בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן בִּלְשׁוֹנ֨וֹ בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֑י בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֥י בִלְשׁ֫וֹנִ֥י בַלָּשׁ֔וֹן בלשון בלשונו בלשוני בלשוני׃ הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן הַלָּשֽׁוֹן׃ הלשון׃ הלשן וְהַלְּשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃ וְלָשׁ֥וֹן וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ וּ֝לְשׁוֹנְךָ֗ וּ֝לְשׁוֹנִ֗י וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹן וּלְשֽׁוֹנְךָ֙ וּלְשׁ֖וֹן וּלְשׁ֣וֹן וּלְשׁ֥וֹן וּלְשׁ֨וֹן וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ וּלְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ וּלְשׁוֹנָ֖ם ובלשון ובלשונם והלשנות וכלשון וכלשונם׃ ולשון ולשונו ולשוני ולשונך ולשונם ולשוננו כִּלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ כִּלְשׁ֥וֹן כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ כלשון כלשונו כלשנו לְ֝שׁוֹנ֗וֹ לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י לְ֝שׁוֹנָ֗ם לְ֭שׁוֹנִי לְֽשׁוֹן־ לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ לְשֹׁנ֣וֹת לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃ לְשֹׁנֽוֹת׃ לְשׁ֣וֹן לְשׁ֤וֹן לְשׁ֥וֹן לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ לְשׁוֹנְכֶ֖ם לְשׁוֹנִ֗י לְשׁוֹנִ֣י לְשׁוֹנִ֨י ׀ לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃ לְשׁוֹנֵ֔ךְ לְשׁוֹנֶ֑ךָ לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם לְשׁוֹנָ֔ם לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם לְשׁוֹנָ֛ם לְשׁוֹנָ֤ם לְשׁוֹנָֽהּ׃ לְשׁוֹנָם֙ לְשׁוֹנָם֮ לְשׁוֹנֽוֹ׃ לִלְשֹֽׁנֹתָ֑ם לִלְשֹׁנ֑וֹ לִלְשֹׁנֵ֣נוּ לִלְשֹׁנֹתָ֑ם לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן לָ֭שׁוֹן לָשֽׁוֹן׃ לָשׁ֑וֹן לָשׁ֔וֹן לָשׁ֖וֹן לָשׁ֛וֹן לָשׁ֥וֹן לָשׁוֹן֮ ללשנו ללשננו ללשנתם לשון לשון׃ לשוןש־ לשונה׃ לשונו לשונו׃ לשוני לשוני׃ לשונך לשונכם לשונם לשנו לשנו׃ לשנות לשנות׃ מִלְּשׁ֣וֹן מִלָּשׁ֥וֹן מלשון ḇal·lā·šō·wn ḇallāšōwn bil·šō·w·nî ḇil·šō·w·nî bil·šō·w·nōw bil·šō·wn bilShon bilshoNi bilshoNo bilšōwn bilšōwnî ḇilšōwnî bilšōwnōw hal·lā·šō·wn hal·lā·šōn hallaShon hallāšōn hallāšōwn kil·šō·nōw kil·šō·w·nōw kil·šō·wn kilShon kilshoNo kilšōnōw kilšōwn kilšōwnōw lā·šō·wn laShon lāšōwn lə·šō·nō·wṯ lə·šō·nōw lə·šō·w·nāh lə·šō·w·nām lə·šō·w·ne·ḵā lə·šō·w·nêḵ lə·šō·w·nî lə·šō·w·nō·še- lə·šō·w·nōw lə·šō·wn lə·šō·wn·ḵā lə·šō·wn·ḵem leShon leshoNah leshoNam leshonCha leshonChem leshoNech leshoNecha leshoNi leshoNo leshonoShe leshoNot ləšōnōw ləšōnōwṯ ləšōwn ləšōwnāh ləšōwnām ləšōwnêḵ ləšōwneḵā ləšōwnî ləšōwnḵā ləšōwnḵem ləšōwnōše- ləšōwnōw lil·šō·nê·nū lil·šō·nō·ṯām lil·šō·nōw lilshoNenu lilshoNo lilshonoTam lilšōnênū lilšōnōṯām lilšōnōw mil·lā·šō·wn mil·lə·šō·wn millaShon millāšōwn milleShon milləšōwn ū·ḇə·lā·šō·wn ū·ḇil·šō·w·nām ū·lə·šō·w·nām ū·lə·šō·w·nê·nū ū·lə·šō·w·nî ū·lə·šō·w·nōw ū·lə·šō·wn ū·lə·šō·wn·ḵā ūḇəlāšōwn ūḇilšōwnām uleShon uleshoNam uleshoncha uleshoNenu uleshoNi uleshoNo ūləšōwn ūləšōwnām ūləšōwnênū ūləšōwnî ūləšōwnḵā ūləšōwnōw uvelaShon uvilshoNam vallaShon vechilShon vechilshoNam vehalleshoNot velaShon vilShoNi wə·hal·lə·šō·nō·wṯ wə·ḵil·šō·w·nām wə·ḵil·šō·wn wə·lā·šō·wn wəhalləšōnōwṯ wəḵilšōwn wəḵilšōwnām wəlāšōwnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts