Proverbs 17:7
WEB
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
BSB
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
KJV
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3808
adv — not, no
Derivation: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
KJV: × before, or else, ere, except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (× as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, surely, as truly as, of a truth, verily, for want, whether, without.
adv — not
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
H5000
a — suitable, beautiful
Derivation: from 4998 or 5116;
suitable, or beautiful
KJV: becometh, comely, seemly.
adj — comely
נָאוֶה adj. comely, seemly
H5036
a — stupid, wicked, impious
Derivation: from 5034;
stupid; wicked (especially impious)
KJV: fool(-ish, -ish man, -ish woman), vile person.
adj — foolish
נָבָל adj. foolish, senseless, esp. of the man who has no perception of ethical and religious claims, and with collat. idea of ignoble, disgraceful; elsewh. as subst. (impious and presumptuous) fool
H8193
n-f — lip, language, margin
Derivation: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from 5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
n.f — lip
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
1. lip
2. language
3. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
H3499
n-m — overhanging, excess, superiority, remainder, rope
Derivation: from 3498;
properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free)
KJV: abundant, cord, exceeding, excellancy(-ent), what they leave, that hath left, plentifully, remnant, residue, rest, string, with.
n.m — remainder
יֶ֫תֶר 94 n.m. remainder, excellence, excess
n.m — cord
יֶ֫תֶר n.m. cord (prop. as hanging over or down)
H637
prt — accession, yea, though
Derivation: a primitive particle;
meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
KJV: also, + although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, + how much less (more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.
conj — also
אַף conj. denoting addition, esp. of something greater, also, yea
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H5081
a — voluntary, magnanimous, grandee, tyrant
Derivation: from 5068;
properly, voluntary, i.e. generous; hence, magnanimous; as noun, a grandee (sometimes a tyrant)
KJV: free, liberal (things), noble, prince, willing (hearted).
adj — inclined
נָדִיב adj. and n.m. inclined, generous, noble
1. incited, inclined, willing
2. noble, princely, in rank
3. noble in mind and character
H8267
n-m — untruth, sham
Derivation: from 8266;
an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
KJV: without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully.
n.m — deception
שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood
1. deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one
2. deceit, fraud, wrong
3. injurious falsehood, in testimony
4. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets
5. lie, falsehood, in gen.
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Verse 7
Proverbs 17:7
Two things are here represented as very absurd: 1. That men of no repute should be dictators. What can be more unbecoming than for fools, who are known to have little sense and discretion, to pretend to that which is above them and which they were never cut out for? A fool, in Solomon's proverbs, signifies a wicked man, whom excellent speech does not become, because his conversation gives the lie to his excellent speech. What have those to do to declare God's statutes who hate instruction? Psa 50:16. Christ would not suffer the unclean spirits to say that they knew him to be the Son of God. See Act 16:17, Act 16:18. 2. That men of great repute should be deceivers. If it is unbecoming a despicable man to presume to speak as a philosopher or politician, and nobody heeds him, being prejudiced against his character, much more unbecoming is it for a prince, for a man of honour, to take advantage from his character and the confidence that is put in him to lie, and dissemble, and make no conscience of breaking his word. Lying ill becomes any man, but worst a prince, so corrupt is the modern policy, which insinuates that princes ought not to make themselves slaves to their words further than is for their interest, and Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare - He who knows not how to dissemble knows not how to reign.
Cross-references: Ps 50:16 · Acts 16:17 · Acts 16:18