The Power of Speech on Passover: How Words Shape Thought, Faith, and Inner Awareness

Our sages teach that silence is fitting for the wise and all the more so for fools, and in Pirkei Avot Rabbi Shimon states, “I have found nothing better for the body than silence.” There are indeed moments when silence is appropriate, even necessary. Yet alongside the beauty of silence stands another powerful force that deserves attention: the power of speech.

The Talmud teaches, “A covenant is made with the lips,” reminding us that words carry great strength, both for good and for harm. Speech is never neutral. It must be used with awareness and wisdom.

Speech as the Expression of Thought

Speech gives external form to our inner world. The thoughts we choose to express in words reveal what occupies our minds and hearts. What we speak about is often a mirror of what we are thinking about most deeply.

On Passover, we are commanded to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, and whoever elaborates on it is praised. This instruction highlights an important principle: when we speak repeatedly about a subject, we refine it, clarify it, and strengthen it within ourselves. Words shape awareness.

People usually speak about what fills their thoughts. When someone demonstrates deep understanding or insight in a particular area, it is usually because they have reflected on it extensively and refined it mentally.

Thought Comes Before Speech

Thought precedes speech. Speech is simply thought clothed in language. When we are encouraged to speak at length about the Exodus, we are being asked to bring that story into our thinking as well. The goal is not only verbal expression but the refinement of our perception of Divine providence.

Passover does not merely ask that our mouths speak, but it invites a deeper process of clarification and mental purification. Through storytelling and discussion, ideas become clearer, more alive, and more integrated into our worldview.

Why Not Every Thought Becomes Words

Research suggests that a person experiences tens of thousands of thoughts each day. Yet only a small portion of those thoughts are expressed verbally. Why is that?

Not every thought is refined enough to be spoken. Some thoughts are fleeting or lack personal significance. Our sages taught that the end of an action begins with thought, but not every thought leads to action. Only the ideas we truly believe in and develop become expressed outwardly.

A thought that we do not truly value will remain unspoken and will not shape our behavior. In contrast, thoughts we invest in and nurture naturally find expression in our speech and actions.

The relationship between speech and thought works in both directions. When we speak frequently about a certain subject, it reveals that the subject has captured our mind. At the same time, repeated speech can also deepen and strengthen our internal awareness. What we speak about eventually becomes part of our mental landscape.

In this sense, we think about what we speak, and we speak about what we think.

Speaking the Story of the Exodus

Understanding this principle sheds light on the instruction to expand the telling of the Exodus story. By describing the miracles, exploring Midrashim, and reflecting on the meaning of redemption, we deepen our awareness that there is nothing besides God.

Passover is uniquely capable of cultivating awe of Heaven. It is not only a ritual experience but a mental and spiritual process that clarifies our perception of reality. Through speech, reflection, and storytelling, we internalize the message that everything is infused with Divine presence.

Whoever speaks about it demonstrates that it lives within their thoughts.

Inbal Elhayani, M.A., is a certified therapist in NLP, mindfulness, and guided imagery.