The Power of the Tongue: Speech, Taste, and Lashon Hara

The two Torah portions we read this Shabbat deal with tzara’at, which the sages associate with the sin of harmful speech. Why, specifically, is speaking negatively about another person called “lashon hara” — evil tongue?

The answer begins with the tongue itself. The tongue is a muscular organ located inside the mouth. It plays an essential role in our ability to speak because we use it to produce different sounds. Certain letters require direct movement of the tongue in order to be pronounced.

In fact, it is obvious that a person without a tongue would not be able to speak properly. This is likely why spoken language itself is often referred to as a tongue. This idea exists in other languages as well. In English, for example, the expression “mother tongue” refers to one’s native language.

The Tongue and the Sense of Taste

The tongue is a truly remarkable organ, and it serves not only for speech but also for eating.

Besides moving food around inside the mouth, the tongue is covered with approximately 10,000 taste buds, which detect molecules from the food we eat. These taste buds can only sense molecules that are dissolved in liquid. This is where saliva plays an important role: it helps dissolve solid food so that the taste receptors can detect it.

The information received by the taste buds is then transmitted to the brain, allowing us to experience flavor and distinguish between foods we enjoy and those we do not.

The tongue is also considered one of the strongest muscles in the body relative to its size.

How Animals Use Their Tongues

Animals, too, make remarkable use of their tongues in many different ways.

Cats, for example, use their tongues to clean their fur and remove dirt. Frogs catch flies and other insects with their long tongues. Dogs stick out their tongues to help evaporate moisture, which serves as a substitute for sweating and helps cool their bodies. Parrots also have tongues, and these help speaking parrots articulate sounds and words more clearly.

A Deeper Reflection

The tongue is therefore one of the most extraordinary organs in the body.

It gives us speech, allows us to taste, and enables communication. Because it holds such power, it can be used to build, encourage, and heal — or, sadly, to harm.

This deeper meaning helps explain why harmful speech is called “lashon hara.” The very organ created for connection and blessing can also be misused, which is why the Torah places such great emphasis on the way we speak.