Poison
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Deut. 29:18; 32:24, 33; Hos. 10:4; Ps. 140:3)—a substance of animal, mineral, or vegetable origin capable of destroying organic life. Scripture also uses poison figuratively for bitter and injurious words, a malicious tongue, and a corrupt heart. The whisperer’s words penetrate deeply while an enemy may disguise hatred with gracious speech (Prov. 26:22-25). James calls the untamed tongue “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas. 3:8), and Paul says, “The poison of asps is under their lips” (Rom. 3:13). The image describes the destructive moral force of speech.