LEV134 We must be aware that words can cause much damage. The Dubno Magid said that many people speak loshon hora because they are not fully aware of the power of the spoken word. How often people rationalize, "I didn't do anything to him, I only said a few words." The metzora, who has been afflicted with tzoraas because of his speaking loshon hora, is taught a lesson about the power of a single word. He must go to a priest who will decide if he is a metzora or not. Just one word by the priest ("Unclean!"), will completely isolate him from society. No more will the metzora minimize the destructive capability of words. (Ohel Yaakov, Metzora) Words can destroy. They can destroy someone's reputation. They can destroy friendships. They can destroy someone's successful business. Therefore, we must be as careful with them as we would be with explosive material.