The month of May marked the beginning of a fascinating journey for me. I was invited to speak at two separate events, with the latter taking place in Montego Bay, Jamaica. During my preparation for the latter engagement, I stumbled upon a profound concept – the Laws of Proper Speech – in a book by Dr. David Ogbuelo. Though it’s a vital pillar of Jewish life, I realised how little I knew of the concept, much less its implications for our lives. Yet, this principle goes to the very heart of how God designed the world.
In God’s act of creation described in Genesis, He changed the world through His Word. Likewise, we will not change the world unless we change our words – aligning them with His Word and the principles He has laid out for how we are to speak.
As the psalmist writes, “Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.” – Psalm 34:12-13
So, based on my recent experience, I want to share some key principles that reveal how true power flows through our words, as described in Dr. Ogbuelo’s book, a power meant to transform not just the church, but also the world around us.
GOD CREATED THE WORLD THROUGH HIS WORD
Scripture opens by showing us that God initiated creation with speech:
- “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” – Genesis 1:3
- “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…” – Hebrews 11:3
Later, God delegated this creative speech to Adam:
- “…Whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” – Genesis 2:19
Adam, made in God’s image, was granted the authority to shape the world through his words, beginning with the task of naming each animal that lived in Eden. The power of speech was, therefore, not exclusively reserved for God; it was woven into the very purpose of humanity.
FOUR LEVELS OF CREATION
Ancient Jewish philosophy teaches that creation exists on four levels:
| Hebrew Term | English | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Domem | Inanimate | Lifeless matter, like rocks |
| Tzomeach | Vegetative | Growing life, like plants |
| Chai | Animal | Moving, sensing creatures |
| Medaber | Human | Speaking, reasoning beings |
From the four levels of creation table, it was clear to see that only humans (medaber) possess the gift of speech. The Hebrew root dabar (to speak) underscores this. Man is, at his core, a speaking spirit, uniquely positioned to set divine order on earth with his words.
FIVE TYPES OF SPEECH
The Jewish people, known for their disproportionate success worldwide, often credit this to their observance of the Torah and the laws and ethics of proper speech. From their teachings, we see that they have identified five levels of speech that shape outcomes in powerful ways.
1. Negative Speech
This is the lowest form of speech – including gossip, slander, backbiting, complaining, lying, cursing, and words intended to harm or divide.
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Galatians 5:14
The fall of humanity began not with an action but with unauthorised/negative speech. Consider the following events: God invited Adam to speak and to name the animals in the Garden. At no time, however, were we told that God invited the serpent to do the same, much less to address God’s most treasured creations—Adam and Eve. What followed was disaster and mayhem, a clear breach of the divine order, initiated by negative speech as we read below:
“And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:13-15.
The principle is also applicable at a national level, wherein Dr. Ogbuelo clearly noted that a nation cannot rise above the quality of words spoken by its people. Consequently, we should take note that every time we speak negatively of Jamaica, we diminish our country’s future.
2. Idle Speech
This involves careless, pointless chatter with no real value. Jesus warned: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37
3. Neutral or Common Words
These are the everyday conversations necessary for human interaction, business, and managing affairs. Neutral speech is not wrong, but it is still governed by our responsibility to speak truthfully and wisely.
4. Positive Speech
This is speech that builds, heals, and inspires. It spreads hope, love, and unity. It is the voice that says to a struggling student, “I believe in you,” or to a young mother who got pregnant under challenging circumstances, “You will be a wonderful mom.”
Positive speech counters the world’s negativity, and it is, therefore, a tool that can be used to heal creation.
5. Holy Words
At the highest level are Holy Words – creative words aligned with God’s purposes. These include prayers, blessings, prophecies, preaching, and worship. This is the speech that can change the very atmosphere around us through lips that speak the words of faith. “I believed and therefore I spoke.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:13
When Jesus said, “Peace, be still,” nature obeyed. However, when Moses struck the rock, God was displeased as He had already established a pattern for how man was to treat and exercise dominion over creation. Likewise, we are called to speak God’s Word into situations rather than reacting out of our own emotions.
THINGS TO PONDER
- When people bring you their troubles, do your words inflame them or bring calm and a new perspective?
- In workplace conflicts, do your words heal or deepen divisions?
- When leadership’s instructions are right yet unpopular, are you a voice of reason or a reliable ally for the dissenters?
- Do you declare God’s Word into your situations or merely insert your opinions?
Jesus, the second Adam, restored our understanding of spoken authority.
“Whoever says to this mountain… and believes… he will have whatever he says.” – Mark 11:23
All creation awaits our words. Even angels stand ready to perform God’s spoken Word. “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.” – Psalm 103:19-20
As we align our words with God’s Word, we will see divine order restored to the earth, as well as witness transformation in our lives, our communities, and our nation. It is, therefore, important to know that your dominion begins and ends with your tongue, your speech, and as such, it must be handled with care.
Gordon M. Swaby is an engineer by profession and a Kingdom visionary.