Don’t Speak Badly About Any Man:
The previous verse (28:32) states: “Its opening at the top shall be turned inward; its opening shall have a border around it like the opening of a coat of armor.” Sefer Ach Pri Tevuah explains that this pasuk is also referring to one’s speech. It is known that the me’il atones for lashon hara. The Alshich Hakadosh says that one should never speak about anyone at all, as Chazal (Eruchin 16A) say that one shouldn’t even use his words to praise his friend. This is hinted to by the words of the pasuk that “the opening at the top shall be turned inward”, meaning that one shouldn’t use his mouth to speak about anyone else. This is in accordance with the statement of tzadikim: “One should only look inwards at himself, and not outwards at others.”
Silence is Better Than Speech:
In this vein, the Sefarim Hakedoshim explains the words “it’s opening at the top should be turned inwards” to mean that one’s “top” – his head – should be before his “opening” – his mouth – meaning that one should think before he speaks. And even after one thinks and decides it is appropriate to say something, “his opening should have a border around it”, meaning that he shouldn’t speak too much, as excess speech can cause much damage. This is in accordance with famous expression: “No one ever regretted being silent.”
The Gorlitzer Rebbe zy”a once heard someone speaking to his friend, and his friend replied, “You’re saying very good...” The Rebbe said, “Yes. What you said was very good. But it wasn’t as good as not saying anything at all, as Chazal say: A word is worth a selah but silence is worth two.”
Guarding One’s Words Grants Strength to Fight the Yeitzer Hara:
Rashi explains the words “like the opening of a coat of armor” by saying: “We learn from here that their coats of armor had the opening folded inward.” Rav Henoch of Alesk zy”a (Siddur Lev Sameach) sees this as a hint that our “coat of armor” – our protection in our battle against the yeitzer hara – is the strength we derive from guarding our speech. We receive this strength when we “fold our mouth inward” and refrain from speaking negatively about others.
Prayers Accepted in the Merit of Guarding One’s Words:
We find that speaking negatively about others is so detrimental that the gates of Heaven are closed to the prayers of one who engages in such speech.
The Chida zt”l (Sefer Tziporin Shamir, Siman 11, Ois 178) writes that one who speaks badly of others will not have his tefillos heard for 40 days. His source is the Zohar Hakadosh (Chelek 2, 249B), which says that if a person sullies his mouth with improper speech and then tries to daven, he is placed in excommunication for 40 days and his prayers are not heard. Hashem seals the gates of Heaven before him, his soul does not ascend to Shomayim when he sleeps and he is pushed out.
However, if one is careful with his speech, his tefillos will certainly be accepted. The Alshich Hakadosh sees this from the subsequent verse (28:35): “And It shall be on Aharon when he performs the avodah, and its sound shall be heard when he enters the Kodesh.” This hints that if one’s words, which are symbolized by the me’il, are like Aharon when he performed the avodah, meaning that they are pure and holy, then his voice will be heard when he davens and he will be allowed to enter the “Kodesh” to speak directly to Hashem.
