TONGUE (tling), (Heb. law-shone' ; Sept. 7Xikaa, gloce'sah, tongue; 04/VC foh-nay', voice; Vulg. lingua, os).
1. Literal Uses. 'Every one that lapped' the water with his tongue, as a dog lapped{ (Judg. vii :5 ; Job xxvii :4 ; Ps. xxxv :28 ; xxxix :1, 3; 11: 14; lxVi :17 ; Prov. xv :2; Zech. xiv :f2; Mark vii: 33, 35; Luke i :64; xvi :24; Rom. iii:13; 1 Cor. xiv:9; James i :26 ; :5, 6, 8; t Pet. iii :to; Rev. xvi :to ; Ecclus. xvii :6; Wisd. x:21 ; 2 Nine. vii: 4; for the tongue of the dog, Ps. lxviii :23 ; of the viper. Job xx :16; of idols, Baruch vi:8; the tongues of the seven brethren cut out, 2 Mace. vii:4, to; comp. Prov. x:2o). Various explana tions have been offered, why Gideon's three hun dred followers should have been selected because they lapped water out of their hands, standing or perhaps moving onward, while they who stayed and 'bowed down to drink' were rejected. Jo sephus says, that the former thereby showed their timorousness and fear of being overtaken by the enemy, and that these poor-spirited men were chosen on purpose to illustrate the power of God in the victory (Antiq. v, 6, 3). It denotes a particular las.guage or dialect, spoken by any particular people.' Everyone after his tongue' (Gen.
x :5. 20, 31; Dent. xxviii :49; Esth. i :22; Dan. i: 4; John v:2; Acts i:19; ii:4, 8, It; xxvi:14; Cor. xii :to; xiii:t ; xiv :2; Rev. xvi :16). Speak ing a language (Is. lxvi:18; Dan. iii :4, 7, etc.; Rev. v:9; vii:9; x:it ; xi:9; xiv:6; xvii:15). It is used for anything resembling a tongue in shape. Thus, 'a wedge of gold,' literally a 'tongue' (Josh. vii:zt, 24).
2. Figurative. (1) `Unto me every longue shall swear,' that is, every man (Is. xlv :23; comp. Rom. xiv :it ; Phil. ii ' Is. liv :t7). (2) The tongue
is said to rejoice (Acts ii :26) ; to meditate (Ps. lii :2) ; to hate (Prov. xxvi :28) ; to be bridled (James i :26) ; to be tamed (James iii :8; comp. Ecclus. xxviii:t8, etc.). (3) It is apostrophized (Ps. cxx :3). By metonymy for speech generally. 'Let us not love in tongue only' (i John iii:I8). (4) 'Accuse not a servant to his master,' literally, 'hurt not with thy tongue' (Prov. xxx :to). (5) 'The law of kindness is in her tongue,' i. e., speech (xxxi :26; Is. iii :8; 1:4; Wisd. i:6). (6) To gnaw the tongue, or gnash the teeth, is expressive of great torment, rage, and despair (Rev. xvi :to). (7) Under the tongue, or lips, or in the mouth, sometimes denotes in the heart, but ready to be ut tered by the tongue or lips (Ps. x :7; cxl :3). (8) Sometimes the tongue is put for the heart (Ps. 2). (9) God divides men's tongues, when he con founds their joint plots against, and persecutions of his people (Ps. Iv:9). (to) A deceitful or double tongue, is that which utters things false, deceiving, and inconsistent (Zeph. iii :13 ; I Tim. iii :8). (t t ) A wholesome tongue, is speech that skews a sincere heart, and tends to the edification of others (Prov. xv :4). (12) A bridled tongue, or watched mouth, is one restrained from sinful reproaches, or passionate language (James i:26; Ps. xxxix:i and cxli:3). (13) A tamed tongue, is one restrained from evil language, and applied to good (James iii :8). (14) A soft tongue, is kind and courteous speech (Prov. xxv :15). (15) The tongue of the learned, is ability to speak, to the conviction, edification and comfort of men's souls (Is. 1:4).