Proverbs 26:2
WEB
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
BSB
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
KJV
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6833
n-f — little bird
Derivation: or צִפֹּר; from 6852;
a little bird (as hopping)
KJV: bird, fowl, sparrow.
n.f — bird
צִפּוֹר, צִפֹּר 40 n.f. bird
H5110
v — nod, waver, wander, flee, disappear, console, deplore, taunt
Derivation: a primitive root;
to nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn) taunt
KJV: bemoan, flee, get, mourn, make to move, take pity, remove, shake, skip for joy, be sorry, vagabond, way, wandering.
vb — move to and fro
נוּד vb. move to and fro, wander, shudder, shew grief
Qal
1.
a. move to and fro, wander aimlessly, as fugitive
b. flutter
c. waver, wave, shake
2. shew grief (i.e. by shaking or nodding head)
Hiph.
1. cause to wander aimlessly, as fugitives
2. make a wagging, wag with the head
Hoph. and the worthless, like briers made to flutter (tossed away) are they
Hithpo‛lel
1. move oneself to and fro, sway, totter
2. shake oneself, in excitement
3. bemoan oneself
H1866
n-f — swift, kind of swallow
Derivation: the same as 1865, applied to a bird;
the swift, a kind of swallow
KJV: swallow.
n.f — swallow
דְּרוֹר n.f. swallow
H5774
v n-f — fly, faint
Derivation: a primitive root; to cover (with wings or obscurity); hence (as denominative from 5775)
to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning)
KJV: brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away), × set, shine forth, weary.
vb — fly
עוּף vb. fly
Qal
1.
a. fly, of birds
b. hover (protectingly)
2. fly away
Hiph. dost thou cause thine eyes to fly
Pō‛l.
1. fly about, to and fro
2. cause to fly to and fro, brandish
Hithpō‛l. like a bird their glory shall fly away
H3651
adv — set upright, just, rightly, so
Derivation: from 3559;
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)
KJV: after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, (for-) asmuch as yet, be (for which) cause, following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), × the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, × you.
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
adj — right
כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest
1. right
2. veritable, true
3. pl. concr. honest (men)
adv — so
כֵּן adv. so
H7045
n-f — vilification
Derivation: from 7043;
vilification
KJV: (ac-) curse(-d, -ing).
n.f — curse
קְלָלָה 33 n.f. curse
H2600
adv — gratis
Derivation: from 2580;
gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage
KJV: without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain.
subst — out of favour
חִנָּם subst., used chiefly in the accus. as adv.—lit. out of favour; i.e.
a. gratis, gratuitously, for nothing
b. for no purpose, in vain
c. gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly
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
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Verse 2
Proverbs 26:2
Here is, 1. The folly of passion. It makes men scatter causeless curses, wishing ill to others upon presumption that they are bad and have done ill, when either they mistake the person or misunderstand the fact, or they call evil good and good evil. Give honour to a fool, and he thunders out his anathemas against all that he is disgusted with, right or wrong. Great men, when wicked, think they have a privilege to keep those about them in awe, by cursing them, and swearing at them, which yet is an expression of the most impotent malice and shows their weakness as much as their wickedness. 2. The safety of innocency. He that is cursed without cause, whether by furious imprecations or solemn anathemas, the curse shall do him no more harm than the bird that flies over his head, than Goliath's curses did to David, Sa1 17:43. It will fly away like the sparrow or the wild dove, which go nobody knows where, till they return to their proper place, as the curse will at length return upon the head of him that uttered it.
Cross-references: 1Sam 17:43