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tung: Almost invariably for either לש×ון, laÌ„shoÌ„n, or γλῶσσα, gloÌ„Ìssa the latter word with the cognates ἑτεÏοÌγλωσσος, heteroÌgloÌ„ssos, “of strange tongues†(), γλωσσωÌδης, gloÌ„ssoÌ„ÌdeÌ„s, “talkative,†English Versions of the Bible “full of tongue†(Sirach 8:3; 9:18), γλωσσοτομεÌω, gloÌ„ssotomeÌoÌ„, “to cut out the tongue†(2 Macc 7:4), διÌγλωσσος, dıÌgloÌ„ssos, “double-tongued†(Sirach 5:9; 28:13). In , however, “double-tongued†is for διÌλογος, dıÌlogos, literally, “two-worded.†Where “tongue†in the King James Version translates διαÌλεκτος, diaÌlektos (; ; ; ; ), the Revised Version (British and American) has “language,†while for the King James Version “in the Hebrew tongue†in ; ; (ἙβÏαΐστιÌ, HebraistıÌ) the Revised Version (British and American) has simply “in Hebrew.†In addition, in the Old Testament and Apocrypha, the King James Version uses “to hold one's tongue†as a translation for various verbs meaning “to be silentâ€; the Revised Version (British and American) in the Old Testament writes “to hold one's peace†and in the Apocrypha “to be silent,†except in Sirach 32:8, where the King James Version is retained (σιωπαÌω, sioÌ„paÌoÌ„).
The various uses of “tongue†in English are all possible also for lāshōn and glōssa, whether as the physical organ (; , etc.) or as meaning “language†(; , etc.) or as describing anything shaped like a tongue (; , etc.). In addition, both words, especially las̄hōn appear in a wider range of meanings than can be taken by “tongue†in modern English. So the tongue appears as the specific organ of speech, where we should prefer “mouth†or “lips†(; ; ; ; , etc.), and hence, “tongue†is used figuratively for the words uttered (; ; , etc.). So the tongue can be said to have moral qualities (; , etc.) or to be “glad†(); to “love with the tongue†() is to love in word only, and to be “double-tongued†(Sirach 5:9; 28:13; is to be a liar. A further expansion of this figurative use has produced expressions that sound slightly bizarre in English, although their meaning is clear enough: e.g., “Who have whet their tongue like a sword†(); “His tongue is as a devouring fire†(); “My tongue is the pen of a ready writer†(), and, especially, “Their tongue walketh through the earth†().
In , “Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,†the figure is that of an uncultured man rolling a choice morsel around in his mouth so as to extract the utmost flavor. In ; (Revised Version margin), however “under the tongue†means “in readiness to utter,†while in , “Honey and milk are under thy tongue,†the pleasure of a caress is described. To “divide their tongue†() is to visit on offenders the punishment of Babel. See TONGUES, CONFUSION OF.