Proverbs 18:17
WEB
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
BSB
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
KJV
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6662
a — just
Derivation: from 6663;
just
KJV: just, lawful, righteous (man).
adj — just
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
H7223
a — first
Derivation: or רִאשֹׁן; from 7221;
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
KJV: ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.
adj — former
רִאשׁוֹן 182 adj. former, first, chief
H7379
n-m — contest
Derivation: or רִב; from 7378;
a contest (personal or legal)
KJV: adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy, multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing), suit.
n.m — strife
רִיב 62 n.m. strife, dispute
H935
v — go, come
Derivation: a primitive root;
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
KJV: abide, apply, attain, × be, befall, besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, × certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, × doubtless again, eat, employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, have, × indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, × (well) stricken (in age), × surely, take (in), way.
vb — come in
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
1. come in
2. come (approach, arrive)
3. go, i.e. walk, associate with
4. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
1. cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
2. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
a. be brought in (of pers. and things)
b. be brought
c. be introduced, put
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
H2713
v — penetrate, examine intimately
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately
KJV: find out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound, try.
vb — search
[חָקַר] vb. search
Qal
1. search (for)
2.
a. search through, explore
b. search a man, find out his sentiments
c. of י׳ searching man
d. of examining thoroughly
Niph. be searched out, found out, ascertained
Pi. he sought out many proverbs
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Verse 17
Proverbs 18:17
This shows that one tale is good till another is told. 1. He that speaks first will be sure to tell a straight story, and relate that only which makes for him, and put the best colour he can upon it, so that his cause shall appear good, whether it really be so or no. 2. The plaintiff having done his evidence, it is fit that the defendant should be heard, should have leave to confront the witnesses and cross-examine them, and show the falsehood and fallacy of what has been alleged, which perhaps may make the matter appear quite otherwise than it did. We must therefore remember that we have two ears, to hear both sides before we give judgment.