Proverbs 11:12
WEB
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
BSB
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.
KJV
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H936
v — disrespect
Derivation: a primitive root;
to disrespect
KJV: contemn, despise, × utterly.
vb — despise
[בּוּז] vb. despise
H7453
n-m — associate
Derivation: or רֵיעַ; from 7462;
an associate (more or less close)
KJV: brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, × (an-) other.
n.m — friend
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
H2638
a — lacking, without
Derivation: from 2637;
lacking; hence, without
KJV: destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.
adj — needy
חָסֵר adj. needy, lacking, in want of
H3820
n-m — heart, feelings, will, intellect, centre
Derivation: a form of 3824;
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
KJV: care for, comfortably, consent, × considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), × heed, × I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), × regard(-ed), × themselves, × unawares, understanding, × well, willingly, wisdom.
n.m — inner man
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
I. seldom of things in the midst of the sea
II. elsewhere of men
1. the inner man in contrast with the outer
2. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
3. specific reference to mind
4. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
5. spec. ref. to conscience
6. [various]
7. for the man himself
8. as seat of appetites
9. as seat of emotions and passions
10. seat of courage
H376
n-m — man
Derivation: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
n.m — man
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
H8394
n-m — intelligence, argument, caprice
Derivation: and (feminine) תְּבוּנָה; or תּוֹבֻנָה; from 995;
intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
KJV: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
n.f — understanding
תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding
1. the act
2. the faculty
3. the object of knowledge
4. personified as teacher.
H2790
v — scratch, engrave, plough, fabricate, devise, be silent, let alone, be deaf
Derivation: a primitive root;
to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)
KJV: × altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.
vb — be silent
[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.
Qal
1. be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray
2. be deaf
Hiph.
1. be silent (= exhibit silence)
2. once causat. make silent
3. be deaf, shew deafness
vb — cut in
[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise
Qal
1. cut in, engrave
2. plough
3. devise
Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed
Hiph. fabricating mischief against
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Verses 12–13
Proverbs 11:12–13
I. Silence is here recommended as an instance of true friendship, and a preservative of it, and therefore an evidence, 1. Of wisdom: A man of understanding, that has rule over his own spirit, if he be provoked, holds his peace, that he may neither give vent to his passion nor kindle the passion of others by any opprobrious language or peevish reflections. 2. Of sincerity: He that is of a faithful spirit, that is true, not only to his own promise, but to the interest of his friend, conceals every matter which, if divulged, may turn to the prejudice of his neighbour.
II. This prudent friendly concealment is here opposed to two very bad vices of the tongue: - 1. Speaking scornfully of a man to his face: He that is void of wisdom discovers his folly by this; he despises his neighbour, calls him Raca, and Thou fool, upon the least provocation, and tramples upon him as not worthy to be set with the dogs of his flock. He undervalues himself who thus undervalues one that is made of the same mould. 2. Speaking spitefully of a man behind his back: A tale-bearer, that carries all the stories he can pick up, true or false, from house to house, to make mischief and sow discord, reveals secrets which he has been entrusted with, and so breaks the laws, and forfeits all the privileges, of friendship and conversation.