PRO 27

Proverbs 27:5

WEB

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

BSB

Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

KJV

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Matthew Henry

Verses 5–6

Proverbs 27:5–6

Note, 1. It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the reproofs of a friend, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed if, in love to our souls, they will not suffer sin upon us, nor let us alone in it. The physician's care is to cure the patient's disease, not to please his palate. 2. It is dangerous to be caressed and flattered by an enemy, whose kisses are deceitful We can take no pleasure in them because we can put no confidence in them (Joab's kiss and Judas's were deceitful), and therefore we have need to stand upon our guard, that we be not deluded by them; they are to be deprecated. Some read it: The Lord deliver us from an enemy's kisses, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Cross-references: Lev 19:17

Hebrew interlinear

H2896

טוֹבṭôwb/tobe/

a n-m n-f — good

Derivation: from 2895;

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)

KJV: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, × most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).

טוֹב

n.m — a good thing

טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare

1. welfare, prosperity, happiness

2. good things

3. good = benefit

4. moral good

טוֹב

adj — pleasant

טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good

1. pleasant, agreeable to the senses

2. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

3. good, excellent, of its kind

4. good, rich, valuable in estimation

5. good, appropriate, becoming

6. c. מִן compar. = better

7. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

8. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

9. good, kind, benign

10. good (ethical), right

טוֹבָה

n.f — welfare

טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good

1. welfare, prosperity, happiness

2. good things

3. bounty, good

H8433

תּוֹכֵחָהtôwkêchâh/to-kay-khaw'/

n-f — chastisement, correction, refutation, proof

Derivation: and תּוֹכַחַת; from 3198;

chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence)

KJV: argument, × chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, × be (often) reproved.

תּוֹכֵחָה

n.f — rebuke

תּוֹכֵחָה n.f. rebuke, correction

תּוֹכַ֫חַת

n.f — argument

תּוֹכַ֫חַת n.f. argument, reproof

1. argument, impeachment, spoken by lips and mouth

2. reproof, chiding

3. correction, rebuke

H1540

גָּלָהgâlâh/gaw-law'/

v — denude, exile, reveal

Derivation: a primitive root;

to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal

KJV: advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, × plainly, publish, remove, reveal, × shamelessly, shew, × surely, tell, uncover.

גָּלָה

vb — uncover

גָּלָה 189 vb. uncover, remove

Qal

1. uncover the ear of one, i.e. reveal to him

2. intr. remove, depart

3. go into exile

Niph.

1. refl.

a. uncover oneself (one’s nakedness)

b. discover or shew oneself

2. pass.

a. be uncovered (one’s nakedness)

b. be disclosed, discovered

3. be removed

Pi.

1. uncover

2. disclose, discover, lay bare

3. make known, shew, reveal

Pu. be uncovered

Hiph. carry away into exile, take into exile

Hoph. carried into exile

Hithp.

1. was uncovered (naked)

2. that his heart may reveal itself

H160

אַהֲבָהʼahăbâh/a-hab-aw/

n-f — love

Derivation: feminine of 158 and meaning the same

KJV: love.

אַהֲבָה

n.f — love

אַהֲבָה n.f. love

H5641

סָתַרçâthar/saw-thar'/

v — hide

Derivation: a primitive root;

to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively

KJV: be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, × surely.

סָתַר

vb — hide

סָתַר vb. hide, conceal

Niph.

1. hide oneself

2. be hid, concealed

Pi. Imv. carefully hide (i.e. shelter) the outcasts

Pu. Pt. love carefully concealed

Hithp. hide oneself carefully

Hiph. conceal, hide

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