Every analogy for understanding God, in the end, breaks down. It’s no different for the analogy with words. Nevertheless, we can safely say that the variations we see in human language are a creaturely reflection of something in God. After all, we said that the distinctions we see in words are good, and all goodness must come from God.

Ten thousand . . . give or take a few. That’s how many words the average speaker utters each day. And according to James, those ten thousand are no mere sounds. Every word is a rudder or a flame (James 3:4, 6), a blessing or a curse (James 3:9), wondrous water or stinging salt (James 3:11), a fig or an olive or a grape (James 3:12). Every word has substance, flavor, direction, power. Every word is alive and active for a time, though only the words of God are always living and active in the high and holy sense (Heb. 4:12). Our words have a God-given vitality and depth that often goes unnoticed. What might happen if we paused to notice?

Let me show you where words come from, why they are deeper than we think, and how this could shape our use of the most common words we hear each day.

Words from the Word

Where do words come from? Words are not the inevitable product of social development, or some evolutionary instinct refined over time. Words are a gift from the God who called His own Son the Word (John 1:1). They are a God-reflecting present offered with the grander gift of life. Words came to Adam along with his breath and blood (Gen. 2:7, 16). They were woven into his DNA so that he would be fully equipped to engage with his God—to hear and respond and worship.

The ultimate goal of God’s gift of words is communion with the “worded” and “wording” Lord. Words are the beckoning invitation to draw near, to taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). Words were given to draw us out and lead us forward. They are always directional.

That’s why Scripture constantly speaks of them as so much more than mere sounds or instruments of social interaction. In the light of God, words are apples of gold in settings of silver (Prov. 25:11), seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6), grace-giving, and beautifully constructive (Eph. 4:29). Why? To draw us closer to God. But in the darkness of sin, words bring divine anger (Deut. 1:34). They deal in deceit (Ps. 35:20; Ps. 36:3). They devour (Ps. 52:4). They entice us to corruption and rebellion (Prov. 7:5). They lie in wait for blood (Prov. 12:6). Why? To draw us closer to the devil and death. Words are always directional. They push us toward life or shoulder us toward death (Prov. 18:21). This all sounds over-the-top, doesn’t it? But God and His Word is true (Rom. 3:4). This is no exaggeration. Words truly are this potent.

Notice how different this biblical approach is from that of the secular world. The linguist and philosopher Steven Pinker called language a biological “instinct,” similar to the instinct that spiders have for spinning webs. If asked the question “Where do words come from?” he would say they come from our biology, which just “happens to be.” In other words, “We don’t know where words come from, but does it really matter?” Yes, it does. Origins are tied to purpose. If words just “happen to be,” then that gives us free reign to make them whatever we want them to be, to change their meaning, or even to tear them away from reality. That’s why, for example, the LGBTQ community wants to claim that “man” no longer means a biological male and “woman” no longer means a biological female. We make words mean what we want them to mean, without any underlying origin to direct them. Do you see how that works?

In contrast, God tells us that words come from Him. With mystery and beauty, He determines their meaning, use, and effect. He is the Lord of language. And His words are upholding, guiding, and directing whatever words fall from our lips. Every time I think about this, I trip and stumble into verse.

Out of silence came God’s speech,

Thunderous strong with hands of braun,

Touching, taking, moving, making,

Sculpting, saying, guiding, praying—

Every word a call to gather,

Every word a living thing.

All our words a wish to matter

Granted by the Worded King.

The Hidden Depth

Now, words are a gift from the Trinitarian Giver. They reflect and reveal Him. And therein lies their depth. The Christian linguist Kenneth L. Pike found various interlocking triads in human language, and he believed this reflected the Trinity. Pike’s work has been further developed and applied by Vern S. Poythress. For now, let me offer just one of those triads: contrast, variation, and distribution. Don’t worry. You don’t need to be a linguist to understand this.

First, every word contrasts with other words. It contrasts in terms of its form and meaning, its grammatical roles, and its sound. Apple is not cheese (though they could go well together). Bird is not bush (though there’s a confusing saying about the two). Words contrast with each other. They are distinct from one another. That provides stability in language amidst diversity, and stability is good. The ultimate foundation for that stability is “the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

Second, every word has variations. It can appear differently even though it is essentially the same in another form. Apples is a variation of apple. The variation does not fundamentally change the meaning of the word and its usage (either literal or metaphorical). There is distinction supported by underlying unity, and this is good. The ultimate foundation for that variation and distinction is the Son, who is the “image” of the invisible God (Col. 1:15). Jesus makes visible “the form” of God (Phil. 2:6) in His earthly ministry.

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