Proverbs 18:21 ESV

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Now the word tongue is often a reference to the spoken word.

It's not really capable of doing anything aside from tasting or stick our tongue out to Tease someone.

In the ​NIV version

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

In other words, Your words has the power of life and death.

Is this literal or metaphorical?

Actually it's both.

What do you mean by “​Those who love it will eat its fruit”?
It simply means ​what you sow you will reap.

So Whatever you say can be to your advantage or disadvantage.

There are a lot of references with regards to how we use our tongue or how we speak.

For example.
Proverbs 18:6-7
6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 13:3
3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

The Bible clearly tells us that there is an outcome on every spoken word we say.

For every word we say there is a consequence.

Example: ​speaking to Wife!

Matthew 12:36
“Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken”
37“For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned”
Words can hurt or build up a person.

With your words you bless and curse

As I end, I wanna share a true story of how science priced that the tongue indeed has hour of life and
death.

So I encourage you to speak life, speak and declare the word of God to your family, kids, workmates.
Why? Because the word is alive and active.
Why? Because Jesus taught us to do so

Words are very powerful. In fact the apostle Paul said in Romans 10:9
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved.

I you want to live a life full of joy, away from hurt and despair, Look on to Jesus.

Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.

“Right where you sit put your faith in Jesus. Believe that he died for you on the
cross and trust in him alone to forgive you from your sins