Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Should we believe everything?Paul's hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13:7 says love 'believes all things,' but Proverbs 14:15, Proverbs 26:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, and 1 John 4:1 issue blank…
Proverbs 6:16-19(v25)There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed…
Psalms 28:3(v25)Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
Jeremiah 12:6(v25)For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you!…
Proverbs 12:20(v24)Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
Jeremiah 9:2-8(v25)Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all…
Show all 26 cross-references
Matthew 24:23(v25)“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.
Luke 22:47-48(v23)While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus…
Proverbs 10:18(vv23–24)He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
Psalms 12:2(v25)Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
Psalms 41:6(v24)If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.
Psalms 55:21-23(v26)His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your burden on…
Luke 11:39(v23)The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and…
1 Samuel 18:17(v26)Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.”…
Proverbs 12:5(v24)The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
Proverbs 12:17(v24)He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
Proverbs 14:8(v24)The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
Micah 7:5(v25)Don’t trust in a neighbor. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
Genesis 4:8(v26)Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed…
1 Samuel 18:21(v26)Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul…
2 Samuel 3:27-30(v26)When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the…
2 Samuel 13:22-28(v26)Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. After two full years, Absalom…
Proverbs 11:1(v24)A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.
Proverbs 25:4(v23)Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
Ezekiel 33:31(v23)They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their…
Matthew 23:27(v23)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of…
2 Samuel 20:9-10(v23)Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed…
26 distinct cross-references across this passage (27 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (20 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn vv23, 25, 26They will soon break out and utter themselves.
They will soon break out and utter themselves.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv23–26Pro 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are…
Pro 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Ver. 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart, &c.] The tongue of the righteous is as fined silver; but glossing lips upon a false heart is no better than dross upon dirt: counterfeit friends are naught on both sides, having os maledictum et cor malum, as Luther renders this text; - a bad mouth, and a worse heart. Wicked men are said to speak with a heart and a heart, {Psa 12:2, marg.} as speaking one thing and thinking another, drawing a fair glove on a foul hand. These are dangerous to be dealt withal; for, like serpents, they can sting without hissing; like cur dogs, suck your blood only with licking, and in the end kill you and cut your throats without biting: so cunning and close are they in the conveyance of their collusion. Squire, sent out of Spain to poison Queen Elizabeth, anointed the pommel of her saddle with poison secretly, and, as it were, doing somewhat else, praying with a loud voice, God save the queen. {a} When those Romish incendiaries, Gifford, Hodgeson, and others, had set Savage to work to kill the said queen, they first set forth a book to persuade the English Catholics to attempt nothing against her. So Parsons, when he had hatched that nameless villany, the gunpowder plot, set forth his book of Resolution, as if he had been wholly made up of devotion. Caveatur osculum Iscarioticum. Betware the mouth of Judus. It is the property of a godly man to speak the truth from his heart. {Psa 15:2}
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{a} Camden’s Elizabeth, 57.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv23, 24, 26Burning; either,
Burning; either,
1. With love. Words delivered with show of true and fervent affection. Or rather,
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2. With malice or hatred. A slanderous or evil tongue; for this word is constantly used in a bad sense, and notes the heat of rage and persecution.
Like a potsherd covered with silver dross; such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a show of it, as dross doth of silver.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry1710 · Public DomainOn vv23–24This may be meant either, 1. Of a wicked…
This may be meant either, 1. Of a wicked heart showing itself in burning lips, furious, passionate, outrageous words, burning in malice, and persecuting those to whom, or of whom, they are spoken; ill words and ill-will agree as well together as a potsherd and the dross of silver, which, now that the pot is broken and the dross separated from the silver, are fit to be thrown together to the dunghill. 2. Or of a wicked heart disguising itself with burning lips, burning with the professions of love and friendship, and even persecuting a man with flatteries; this is like a potsherd covered with the scum or dross of silver, with which one that is weak may be imposed upon, as if it were of some value, but a wise man is soon aware of the cheat. This sense agrees with the following verses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv23–26He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,.... He that…
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,.... He that bears a grudge in his mind, and retains hatred in his heart against any person, hides it all he can, till he has an opportunity of showing it as he would; he pretends a great deal of friendship with his lips, that his hatred might not be known; he would be thought to be a friend, when he is really an enemy; he does not choose as yet to make himself known what he is. Some render it to a sense the reverse, "the enemy", or "he that hateth, is known by his lips" (l); so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions: if you carefully watch him, mark his words, and observe what he says, you will find out the hatred that lies in his heart; he cannot forbear saying something, at one time or another, which betrays the malignity of his mind;
and layeth up deceit within him; or, "though (m) he layeth up", &c. hides it as much as he can, yet it will show itself in some way or another.
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(l) "agnoscetur", Montanus, Vatablus; "cognoscetur", Tigurine version; "cognoscitur", Amama, so Luther. (m) "quamvis", Luther. apud Gejerus, Baynus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn v23Burning - With malice or hatred: A slanderous or…
Burning - With malice or hatred: A slanderous or evil tongue. Dross - Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a shew of it, as dross does of silver. 26. Deceit - With false professions of love.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv23, 25Verse 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart] Splendid,…
Verse 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart] Splendid, shining, smooth lips; that is, lips which make great professions of friendship are like a vessel plated over with base metal to make it resemble silver; but it is only a vile pot, and even the outside is not pure.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn vv23–24Pro 26:23. Burning lips — Either, 1st, Lips pretending…
Pro 26:23. Burning lips — Either, 1st, Lips pretending much love, that is, words delivered with a show of truth and fervent affection; or, rather, 2d, Burning with malice or hatred; that is, a slanderous or evil tongue; and a wicked heart — From whence evil thoughts and malicious words proceed; are like a potsherd covered with silver dross — Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a show of it, as dross does of silver.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv23, 25, 26Burning lips - i. e., “Lips glowing with, affection,…
Burning lips - i. e., “Lips glowing with, affection, uttering warm words of love,” joined with a malignant heart, are like a piece of broken earthenware from the furnace, which glitters with the silver drops at stick to it, but is itself worthless.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges1846 · Public DomainOn v23The sin here described is a disgrace to society!…
The sin here described is a disgrace to society! Yet is it often covered with a flattering garb, as the worthless potsherd with a thin coat of silver. "The tongue of the just is as choice silver." Here is only silver dross — "the heart of the wicked, which is nothing worth" (Pro 10:20 ); lips burning with warm affection, yet covering a heart filled with malice and wickedness.†1 Such were the lips of Joseph’s brethren, when "they rose up to comfort their father" under the bereavement which they had brought upon him. (Gen 37:35 .) Such was Absalom’s smooth hypocrisy. (2Sa 15:1-9 .) Such were the traitor’s lips and heart, uniting with the rest in protestations of faithfulness; yet "betraying the Son of man with a kiss."†2 An open enemy could be much better borne. (Psa 55:12 .) The cant of hypocrites, the benevolence of infidels, the smooth enticement of the false "angel of light" — all answer to this strong figure. ’Hypocrisy is spun often of a very fine thread; and the heart of man, abounding with so much hypocrisy as it doth, is the most deceitful thing, yea, and the most deceivable too, actively and passively both, of anything in the world.’†3
Often also, when the lips do not burn, there is dissembling of hatred. "Cain talked with his brother in the field," while murder was in his heart. (Gen 4:8 .) Saul pretended to honor David, while he was plotting his ruin. (1Sa 18:17, 1Sa 18:21 .) Absalom dissembled with his brother, by seeming to let him alone, for two years laying up deceit within him. (2Sa 13:22-28 .) Joab covered his murderous intentions with peaceable profession.†4
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Christian prudence will guard against credulity,†5 which is in fact the "harmlessness of the dove," without "the wisdom of the serpent." (Mat 10:16 .) This weakness cost Gedaliah his life.†6 A sounder spirit saved Nehemiah from the snare of his malignant adversaries.†7 The source of this wickedness gives good reason for distrust. There are seven abominations — a great variety†8 of abominations — closely folded up in his heart, only within the ken of that heart-searching eye, "before whom all secret things are naked and open."†9 And here lies the root of the disease. ’A guileful heart makes guileful tongue and lips. It is the workhouse, where is the forge of deceit and slander; and the tongue is only the outer shop, where they are mended; and the lips the door of it; so then such ware as is made within, such and no other can be set out. From evil thoughts, evil speakings; from a deceitful heart, guileful words, well-varnished, but lined with rottenness.’†10 Oh! let this despicable character be a beacon to us to shun all approaches to false dealings. Better to risk giving offense by faithfulness (though let this, so far as conscience allows, be avoided) rather than cover our hatred by flattering words.
Dissembling never answers in the end. The Providence of God brings dark deeds to light. "The voice of Abel’s blood cried from the ground." (Gen 4:10 .) "Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." (1Ti 5:24 .) The hand strips off the mask, and exposes the flatterer to shame. His seven abominations shall be proclaimed, if not more privately, at last before the whole congregation, when all shall appear before men and angels as they really are, and when the hypocrite shall receive his just recompense of "everlasting contempt." (Luk 12:2 .)
Often however does retribution reach the offender in this world. ’He will fall into the pits, which he has bestowed pains to dig for his neighbor, and be crushed by the stone, which he meant to roll upon him.’†11 Even the place of sinning is sometimes made the place of punishment.†12 Those who plot mischief for others, will be overwhelmed with it themselves.†13 Moab, in attempting to curse Israel, fell himself under the curse of God.†14 Haman’s gallows for Mordecai was his own "promotion of shame."†15 The enemies of Daniel were devoured in the ruin, which they plotted against him.†16 Thus does God "take the wise in his craftiness,"†17 "the wicked in his wickedness."†18 The death of Christ, which was to be the means of warding off national judgment, was the just cause of the deprecated scourge.†19 The malice that meditates the evil, is often the cause of its own overthrow. What an Aceldama would this world be, but for the restraining grace of God! Oh! may my heart, my soul, every member, every principle, not only be restrained from hateful passions; but be imbued with the spirit of the Gospel, and consecrated to the service of God!
Footnotes:
†1 Pro 10:17. Psa 55:21 . Compare Sir 19:26-28 . See Bunyan’s description of the town of ’Fair-Speech.’
†5 Jer 9:8; Jer 12:6 . Mic 7:5 . Compare Sir 12:10-17 .
†6 Jer 40:14; Jer 41:6-7 .
†7 Neh 6:1-4.
†8 Bp. Hall. Pro 26:16 ; Pro 24:16 .
†9 Jer 17:10. Heb 4:13 .
†10 Leighton on 1Pe 3:16 .
†11 Scott.
†12 1Ki 21:19, with 2Ki 9:26 . Jer 7:31-32 .
†13 Psa 7:15.
†14 Num 22:6; Num 24:17 .
†15 Pro 3:35. Est 7:10 .
†16 Dan 6:24.
†17 Job 5:13.
†18 Pro 11:6.
†19 Joh 11:50. Mat 23:32, Mat 23:38 .
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary1859 · Public DomainOn vv23, 24, 26Dross. Hence the proud will be detested, and appear…
Dross. Hence the proud will be detested, and appear contemptible.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown1871 · Public DomainOn vv23–26Warm professions can no more give value to insincerity…
Warm professions can no more give value to insincerity than silver coating to rude earthenware.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv23–2623. Burning lips — Fiery professions of friendship, (Zockler,)…
23. Burning lips — Fiery professions of friendship, (Zockler,) and, especially lustful kisses. Mat_26:48.
Potsherd — A piece of broken crockery; perhaps put poetically for an earthen vessel.
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Silver dross — An earthen vessel plated with silver, appearing more valuable than it really is. The proverb teaches the worthlessness of merely pretended friendship.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv23, 24, 2623. burning] Better, fervent, R.V., with protestations of affection.
23. burning] Better, fervent, R.V., with protestations of affection.
a potsherd covered] The rendering, an earthen vessel overlaid, R.V. makes the meaning clearer.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv23, 25, 26(23) Burning lips—i.e., burning with love, while there is…
(23) Burning lips—i.e., burning with love, while there is an evil heart within.
A potsherd covered with silver dross.—Pottery glazed with dross of silver, a well-known method of ornamentation. For similar proverbs, comp. Mat_23:27; Luk_11:39.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv23–26The next proverbs are concerned with hypocrisy. The Hebrew…
The next proverbs are concerned with hypocrisy. The Hebrew denotes the comparison simply by position, (see on Pro_25:11) thus: An earthen vessel (or, potsherd) overlaid with silver dross growing lips and a wicked heart. So called "silver dross" is litharge, an oxide of lead used to this day to put a glaze on pottery (comp. Ecc 38:30). The comparatively worthless article is thus made to assume a fine appearance. Thus lips that seem to burn with affection, and give the kiss of glowing, love, may mask a heart filled with envy and hatred Judas kisses and words of friendship hide the bad feelings that lurk within. Septuagint, "Silver given with guile is to be considered as a potsherd; smooth (leia ) lips hide a grievous heart". (comp. Mat_23:27)
Vers. 23-28. On guard.
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Unfortunately, we have to treat men as we find them, not as we wish that they were and as their Creator meant them to be. We are compelled to learn caution as we pass on our way.
I OUR FIRST DUTY AND ITS NATURAL REWARD. Our first duty, natural to the young and the unsophisticated, is to be frank, open-minded, sincere, trustful; to say all that is in our heart, and to expect others to do the same; to believe that men mean what they say and say what they mean. And the reward of this simplicity and truthfulness on our part is an ingenuous, an unsuspicious spirit, a spirit as far removed as possible from that of cunning, of artifice, of worldliness.
II THE CORRECTION OF EXPERIENCE. All too soon we discover that we cannot act on this theory without being wounded and hurt. We find that what looks like pure silver may be nothing better than "earthenware of the coarsest kind lacquered over with silver dross." Behind the lips that burn and breathe affection for us and interest in us is a wicked heart in which are "seven abominations," in which dwells every evil imagination. We find that those who affect to be our friends when they stand in our presence are in fact our bitterest and most active enemies. We discover that our words, spoken in good faith and purity of heart, are misrepresented, and are made a sword to smite us. Experience compels caution, reticence, sometimes absolute silence.
III THE TWO MAIN EVILS AGAINST WHICH TO GUARD. These are:
1. Fair speaking which is false. The false words that are ostensibly spoken in our interest, by one that means us harm; words which would lead to trust and expectation when we should be alive with solicitude and alert to avoid the danger which impends. By these our treasure, our position, our friendship, our reputation, our happiness, may he seriously endangered.
2. Flattery. The invention and utterance of that which is not felt at all, or the careless and perhaps well-meant exaggeration of a feeling which is entertained in, the heart. Few things are more potent for harm than flattery.
(1) It is readily received.
(2) It is carefully treasured; men"s self-love prompts them to accept and to retain that which, if it were of an opposite character, they would reject.
(3) It is harmful in three different directions:
(a) It gives a wrong impression of our estate, and may lead to financial "ruin" (ver. 28).
(b) It encourages an over-estimate of our capacity, and may lead to our undertaking that for which we are incompetent, and thus to an humiliating and distressing failure.
(c) It engenders a false idea of our persona! worth, and may lead to spiritual infatuation, and thus to the ruin of ourselves.
IV THE DUTY AND THE WISDOM OF WARINESS. As these things are so, as human society does hold a large number of dissemblers (ver. 24), as it is possible that the next acquaintance we make may be an illustration of this sad fact, it follows that absolute trustfulness is a serious mistake. We must be on our guard. We must not open our hearts too freely. We must know men before we trust them. We must cultivate the art of penetration, of reading character. To be able to distinguish between the true and the false in this great sphere is a very large part of wisdom. Next to knowing God, and to acquainting ourselves with our own hearts, is the duty of studying men and discerning between the lacquered potsherd and the pure silver.
V THE DOOM OF DECEIT. To be rigorously exposed, to be unsparingly denounced, to be utterly ashamed (vers. 26, 27). C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator1887 · Public DomainOn vv23–24Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a…
Pro_26:23
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
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Putrefaction phosphorescent
The illuminating power of phosphorus appears due to an extremely slow chemical reaction, and it is affirmed that vegetable and animal substances may grow phosphorescent at a certain stage of decomposition, or even without any appearance of putrefaction. Accredited authorities cite a host of examples of fresh or stale meats which have been seen to shine during the night with a more or less vivid clearness. Fish, and especially salt-water fish, when no longer fresh, acquire a phosphorescence which brightens during the first period, of putrefaction. Leave for two or three days dead saltwater fish in non-luminous sea-water; at the end of that time the water will be covered with a thin pellicle of fatty matter, and will soon become phosphorescent. But it is not only in material nature that we thus find brightness in combination with impurity. Genius itself has been found shining amidst moral putrefaction. (Scientific Illustrations.)
A wicked heart disguising itself
This may be meant either--
1. Of a wicked heart showing itself in burning lips, furious, passionate, outrageous words, burning in malice, and presenting those to whom, or of whom, they are spoken. Ill-words and ill-will agree together as well as a potsherd and the dross of silver, which, now that the pot is broken, and the dross separated from the silver, are fit to be thrown together to the dunghill
2. Or of a wicked heart disguising itself, with burning lips, burning with the professions of love and friendship, and even persecuting a man with flatteries; this is like a potsherd covered with the scum or dross of silver, with which one that is weak may be imposed upon, as if it were of some value, but a wise man is soon aware of the cheat. This sense agrees with the following verses. (Matthew Henry.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary1892 · Public DomainOn v23Pro_26:23. Burning lips—i.e., “lips whence come ardent expressions of…
CRITICAL NOTES.—
Pro_26:23. Burning lips—i.e., “lips whence come ardent expressions of friendship.” Silver dross. Impure silver not freed from the dross.
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Pro_26:24. Layeth up, rather, “prepareth,” or “meditateth.”
Pro_26:26. Congregation—i.e., “before the people assembled for judgment.” (Zöckler.)
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH—Pro_26:23-28
COUNTERFEIT FRIENDSHIP
I. Because there are true friends in the world false men sometimes put on the garb of friendship. Because there is an abundance of genuine coin in the country men take the trouble to make counterfeit imitations of it; the existence of the good money is the cause of the existence of the bad, and the great preponderance of the good over the bad is the reason why men sometimes get imposed upon and take the bad for the good. So there is much real and true friendship in human life, and there is therefore an opportunity given to wicked men to imitate its outward expression—there are many “burning words” uttered from the depths of a sincere heart, and therefore a wicked man will sometimes utter such words for the purposes of deception. The vessel of clay covered with silver may be taken for silver, because its shape and external appearance are close imitations of the genuine article, and the fair words of the false man may effectually deceive the listener, but it is because some things are what they seem, that other things are made to seem what they are not.
II. The words of true friendship are used to reveal, and those of the false friend are employed only for concealment. There were many silver vessels in Solomon’s palace, and their bright splendour was a true revelation of their intrinsic worth and genuineness; the shining surface reflecting the light was an indication of the preciousness of the entire article. But when a clay vessel is covered with silver, the external coating is used only to cover what is beneath, and perhaps to deceive those who look on it. So when the friendship is real the ardent expressions of affection which are uttered are only a revelation of the emotions which are experienced, but when it is only a counterfeit the words are like the silver which hides instead of revealing what is beneath it. Solomon’s father thus records his experience of the language of a counterfeit friend: “His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords” (Psa_55:21).
III. Because counterfeit friendship is opposed to human happiness it shall be publicly arrested and condemned. Every counterfeit has arrayed against it the force of human interest. It is to the interest of the general community that the forger should be brought to justice, and that the coiner of bad money should be severely punished. It is only by rigidly enforcing the law against such criminals that they are kept in check, and the safety of the public made tolerably secure. When such offenders are discovered their wickedness is condemned by the united voice of the commercial world. But the man who betrays another by false words is quite as great an enemy to his brother man, and ought to be as severely dealt with and as publicly and universally condemned. But it can hardly be affirmed that such is the case. If every such betrayer were dealt with by human laws we should need a large increase of judges and gaolers and prison-cells, and should find within the walls of the latter many men who are now living in mansions. And if they were only punished by being shut out from the favourable notice of their fellow-men, many would be missed from their present positions in commercial and fashionable circles. Although they are shunned, and their wickedness is abhorred by all lovers of truth and honesty, they are far from meeting at the hands of man with the contempt and condemnation which they deserve. But the forces arrayed against such men are nevertheless in operation, and though they often work secretly and slowly they are most certain to find their object, and to make him conscious of their existence. There are other agencies at work in the universe beside human agencies, and a Divine lawgiver as well as human lawgivers. And although the latter may fail to discover those who break their laws, no offender against the law of God will be able to escape public arrest and condemnation, if not before a human congregation, before a higher and more august assembly.
IV. A special form of punishment which will be the special portion of such offenders. The great principle proclaimed by Christ, “With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again” (Mat_7:2), is here uttered by Solomon. Every deceiver will be deceived, and one false man will become the prey of another false man. This is a law which is always and now in operation, although the punishment may not always be discernible to onlookers. But it is a work which the Almighty Judge has taken into His own hands, and many a one who is now suffering from a pitfall laid by another, knows very well in his secret soul that he is only passing through the same experience which he once prepared for another—that if what he took for a silver vessel is only clay, he has himself palmed off the counterfeit article for a genuine one.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Pro_26:28. It is not easy for us to forgive the injuries we receive; but it is far more difficult to forgive the injuries we do.—Lawson.
1. There is the inward self-reproach, arising from the workings of conscience, from which arises a secret irritability and fretfulness and unhappiness; and this produces dislike of the innocent occasion of it, instead of terminating (as it always ought to do) on self. This of course is only more injustice. True; but it is in human nature to hate with a bitter hatred the object of our own crime; as if it were a fault in that object to exist, and so to be the object on which our sin terminates.
2. The evil passions, like the good, are strengthened and increased by their exercise. If the utterance of the feelings of love serves further to inflame love, the utterance, in like manner, of the feelings of hatred tend to inflame hatred. The passion gives birth to the word and the action; and, reciprocally, the word and the action strengthen the passion.
3. The fretful uneasiness produced by the unceasing apprehension of detection and exposure, already alluded to, and of the weight of his vengeance who is the object of the lying tongue’s assaults, gives rise also to the same feeling of rankling dislike to him who is the source of it. Thus the slanderer, instead of feeling pity for the man whom his slander wounds, hates him still the more. This appears to have had a very striking exemplification in the case of our blessed Lord and His Jewish unbelieving adversaries. They “hated Him without a cause.”—Wardlaw.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On v24disguises his feelings with his lips
disguises his feelings with his lips
Disguising his feelings represents keeping people from knowing what his feelings are. The phrase "his lips" is a metonym for what he says. AT: "hides his feelings with what he says" or "speaks in such a way that people cannot know his true feelings" (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)
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he lays up deceit within himself
Being deceitful is spoken of as if he were storing deceit within himself. Possible meanings are that "deceit" refers to lies. AT: "he likes his many lies" or 2) deceit refers secret plans to harm people. AT: "he secretly plans to harm people" (See: Metaphor)
but do not believe him
"but do not believe what he says"
for there are seven abominations in his heart
The number seven represents completeness. Possible meanings are 1) "abominations" refers to attitudes that God hates. AT: "for his heart is completely filled with hateful things" or 2) "abominations" refers to his hatred for people. AT: "for his heart is completely filled with hatred" (See: Metaphor)
Though his hatred is covered with deception
This can be stated actively. AT: "Though deception covers his hatred" or "Though he covers his hatred with deception" (See: Active or Passive)
Though his hatred is covered with deception
Keeping people from knowing that he hates them is spoken of as covering his hatred. AT: "Though he lies to keep people from knowing that he hates them" or "Though he lies so that people will not know that he hates them" (See: Metaphor)
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly
Being exposed represents being discovered or becoming known. AT: "his wickedness will become known in the assembly" or "the assembly will discover his wickedness" (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)
GEBible — Godless Engineer's Bible App
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 26 They will soon break out and utter themselves.
They will soon break out and utter themselves.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Pro 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are…
Pro 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Ver. 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart, &c.] The tongue of the righteous is as fined silver; but glossing lips upon a false heart is no better than dross upon dirt: counterfeit friends are naught on both sides, having os maledictum et cor malum, as Luther renders this text; - a bad mouth, and a worse heart. Wicked men are said to speak with a heart and a heart, {Psa 12:2, marg.} as speaking one thing and thinking another, drawing a fair glove on a foul hand. These are dangerous to be dealt withal; for, like serpents, they can sting without hissing; like cur dogs, suck your blood only with licking, and in the end kill you and cut your throats without biting: so cunning and close are they in the conveyance of their collusion. Squire, sent out of Spain to poison Queen Elizabeth, anointed the pommel of her saddle with poison secretly, and, as it were, doing somewhat else, praying with a loud voice, God save the queen. {a} When those Romish incendiaries, Gifford, Hodgeson, and others, had set Savage to work to kill the said queen, they first set forth a book to persuade the English Catholics to attempt nothing against her. So Parsons, when he had hatched that nameless villany, the gunpowder plot, set forth his book of Resolution, as if he had been wholly made up of devotion. Caveatur osculum Iscarioticum. Betware the mouth of Judus. It is the property of a godly man to speak the truth from his heart. {Psa 15:2}
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{a} Camden’s Elizabeth, 57.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 Burning; either,
Burning; either,
1. With love. Words delivered with show of true and fervent affection. Or rather,
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2. With malice or hatred. A slanderous or evil tongue; for this word is constantly used in a bad sense, and notes the heat of rage and persecution.
Like a potsherd covered with silver dross; such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a show of it, as dross doth of silver.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv23–24 This may be meant either, 1. Of a wicked…
This may be meant either, 1. Of a wicked heart showing itself in burning lips, furious, passionate, outrageous words, burning in malice, and persecuting those to whom, or of whom, they are spoken; ill words and ill-will agree as well together as a potsherd and the dross of silver, which, now that the pot is broken and the dross separated from the silver, are fit to be thrown together to the dunghill. 2. Or of a wicked heart disguising itself with burning lips, burning with the professions of love and friendship, and even persecuting a man with flatteries; this is like a potsherd covered with the scum or dross of silver, with which one that is weak may be imposed upon, as if it were of some value, but a wise man is soon aware of the cheat. This sense agrees with the following verses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–26 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,.... He that…
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,.... He that bears a grudge in his mind, and retains hatred in his heart against any person, hides it all he can, till he has an opportunity of showing it as he would; he pretends a great deal of friendship with his lips, that his hatred might not be known; he would be thought to be a friend, when he is really an enemy; he does not choose as yet to make himself known what he is. Some render it to a sense the reverse, "the enemy", or "he that hateth, is known by his lips" (l); so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions: if you carefully watch him, mark his words, and observe what he says, you will find out the hatred that lies in his heart; he cannot forbear saying something, at one time or another, which betrays the malignity of his mind;
and layeth up deceit within him; or, "though (m) he layeth up", &c. hides it as much as he can, yet it will show itself in some way or another.
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(l) "agnoscetur", Montanus, Vatablus; "cognoscetur", Tigurine version; "cognoscitur", Amama, so Luther. (m) "quamvis", Luther. apud Gejerus, Baynus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v23 Burning - With malice or hatred: A slanderous or…
Burning - With malice or hatred: A slanderous or evil tongue. Dross - Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a shew of it, as dross does of silver. 26. Deceit - With false professions of love.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv23, 25 Verse 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart] Splendid,…
Verse 23. Burning lips and a wicked heart] Splendid, shining, smooth lips; that is, lips which make great professions of friendship are like a vessel plated over with base metal to make it resemble silver; but it is only a vile pot, and even the outside is not pure.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv23–24 Pro 26:23. Burning lips — Either, 1st, Lips pretending…
Pro 26:23. Burning lips — Either, 1st, Lips pretending much love, that is, words delivered with a show of truth and fervent affection; or, rather, 2d, Burning with malice or hatred; that is, a slanderous or evil tongue; and a wicked heart — From whence evil thoughts and malicious words proceed; are like a potsherd covered with silver dross — Such a tongue and heart are of no real worth, although sometimes they make a show of it, as dross does of silver.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 26 Burning lips - i. e., “Lips glowing with, affection,…
Burning lips - i. e., “Lips glowing with, affection, uttering warm words of love,” joined with a malignant heart, are like a piece of broken earthenware from the furnace, which glitters with the silver drops at stick to it, but is itself worthless.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain On v23 The sin here described is a disgrace to society!…
The sin here described is a disgrace to society! Yet is it often covered with a flattering garb, as the worthless potsherd with a thin coat of silver. "The tongue of the just is as choice silver." Here is only silver dross — "the heart of the wicked, which is nothing worth" (Pro 10:20 ); lips burning with warm affection, yet covering a heart filled with malice and wickedness.†1 Such were the lips of Joseph’s brethren, when "they rose up to comfort their father" under the bereavement which they had brought upon him. (Gen 37:35 .) Such was Absalom’s smooth hypocrisy. (2Sa 15:1-9 .) Such were the traitor’s lips and heart, uniting with the rest in protestations of faithfulness; yet "betraying the Son of man with a kiss."†2 An open enemy could be much better borne. (Psa 55:12 .) The cant of hypocrites, the benevolence of infidels, the smooth enticement of the false "angel of light" — all answer to this strong figure. ’Hypocrisy is spun often of a very fine thread; and the heart of man, abounding with so much hypocrisy as it doth, is the most deceitful thing, yea, and the most deceivable too, actively and passively both, of anything in the world.’†3
Often also, when the lips do not burn, there is dissembling of hatred. "Cain talked with his brother in the field," while murder was in his heart. (Gen 4:8 .) Saul pretended to honor David, while he was plotting his ruin. (1Sa 18:17, 1Sa 18:21 .) Absalom dissembled with his brother, by seeming to let him alone, for two years laying up deceit within him. (2Sa 13:22-28 .) Joab covered his murderous intentions with peaceable profession.†4
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Christian prudence will guard against credulity,†5 which is in fact the "harmlessness of the dove," without "the wisdom of the serpent." (Mat 10:16 .) This weakness cost Gedaliah his life.†6 A sounder spirit saved Nehemiah from the snare of his malignant adversaries.†7 The source of this wickedness gives good reason for distrust. There are seven abominations — a great variety†8 of abominations — closely folded up in his heart, only within the ken of that heart-searching eye, "before whom all secret things are naked and open."†9 And here lies the root of the disease. ’A guileful heart makes guileful tongue and lips. It is the workhouse, where is the forge of deceit and slander; and the tongue is only the outer shop, where they are mended; and the lips the door of it; so then such ware as is made within, such and no other can be set out. From evil thoughts, evil speakings; from a deceitful heart, guileful words, well-varnished, but lined with rottenness.’†10 Oh! let this despicable character be a beacon to us to shun all approaches to false dealings. Better to risk giving offense by faithfulness (though let this, so far as conscience allows, be avoided) rather than cover our hatred by flattering words.
Dissembling never answers in the end. The Providence of God brings dark deeds to light. "The voice of Abel’s blood cried from the ground." (Gen 4:10 .) "Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." (1Ti 5:24 .) The hand strips off the mask, and exposes the flatterer to shame. His seven abominations shall be proclaimed, if not more privately, at last before the whole congregation, when all shall appear before men and angels as they really are, and when the hypocrite shall receive his just recompense of "everlasting contempt." (Luk 12:2 .)
Often however does retribution reach the offender in this world. ’He will fall into the pits, which he has bestowed pains to dig for his neighbor, and be crushed by the stone, which he meant to roll upon him.’†11 Even the place of sinning is sometimes made the place of punishment.†12 Those who plot mischief for others, will be overwhelmed with it themselves.†13 Moab, in attempting to curse Israel, fell himself under the curse of God.†14 Haman’s gallows for Mordecai was his own "promotion of shame."†15 The enemies of Daniel were devoured in the ruin, which they plotted against him.†16 Thus does God "take the wise in his craftiness,"†17 "the wicked in his wickedness."†18 The death of Christ, which was to be the means of warding off national judgment, was the just cause of the deprecated scourge.†19 The malice that meditates the evil, is often the cause of its own overthrow. What an Aceldama would this world be, but for the restraining grace of God! Oh! may my heart, my soul, every member, every principle, not only be restrained from hateful passions; but be imbued with the spirit of the Gospel, and consecrated to the service of God!
Footnotes:
†1 Pro 10:17. Psa 55:21 . Compare Sir 19:26-28 . See Bunyan’s description of the town of ’Fair-Speech.’
†2 Mat 26:35. Luk 22:47-48 .
†3 Bp. Sanderson’s Sermon on Gal 5:22-23 .
†4 2Sa 3:27; 2Sa 20:9-10. Compare Gen 34:15-25 . Psa 28:3 ; Psa 55:20 .
†5 Jer 9:8; Jer 12:6 . Mic 7:5 . Compare Sir 12:10-17 .
†6 Jer 40:14; Jer 41:6-7 .
†7 Neh 6:1-4.
†8 Bp. Hall. Pro 26:16 ; Pro 24:16 .
†9 Jer 17:10. Heb 4:13 .
†10 Leighton on 1Pe 3:16 .
†11 Scott.
†12 1Ki 21:19, with 2Ki 9:26 . Jer 7:31-32 .
†13 Psa 7:15.
†14 Num 22:6; Num 24:17 .
†15 Pro 3:35. Est 7:10 .
†16 Dan 6:24.
†17 Job 5:13.
†18 Pro 11:6.
†19 Joh 11:50. Mat 23:32, Mat 23:38 .
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 Dross. Hence the proud will be detested, and appear…
Dross. Hence the proud will be detested, and appear contemptible.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Warm professions can no more give value to insincerity…
Warm professions can no more give value to insincerity than silver coating to rude earthenware.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv23–26 23. Burning lips — Fiery professions of friendship, (Zockler,)…
23. Burning lips — Fiery professions of friendship, (Zockler,) and, especially lustful kisses. Mat_26:48.
Potsherd — A piece of broken crockery; perhaps put poetically for an earthen vessel.
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Silver dross — An earthen vessel plated with silver, appearing more valuable than it really is. The proverb teaches the worthlessness of merely pretended friendship.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 23. burning] Better, fervent, R.V., with protestations of affection.
23. burning] Better, fervent, R.V., with protestations of affection.
a potsherd covered] The rendering, an earthen vessel overlaid, R.V. makes the meaning clearer.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 26 (23) Burning lips—i.e., burning with love, while there is…
(23) Burning lips—i.e., burning with love, while there is an evil heart within.
A potsherd covered with silver dross.—Pottery glazed with dross of silver, a well-known method of ornamentation. For similar proverbs, comp. Mat_23:27; Luk_11:39.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23–26 The next proverbs are concerned with hypocrisy. The Hebrew…
The next proverbs are concerned with hypocrisy. The Hebrew denotes the comparison simply by position, (see on Pro_25:11) thus: An earthen vessel (or, potsherd) overlaid with silver dross growing lips and a wicked heart. So called "silver dross" is litharge, an oxide of lead used to this day to put a glaze on pottery (comp. Ecc 38:30). The comparatively worthless article is thus made to assume a fine appearance. Thus lips that seem to burn with affection, and give the kiss of glowing, love, may mask a heart filled with envy and hatred Judas kisses and words of friendship hide the bad feelings that lurk within. Septuagint, "Silver given with guile is to be considered as a potsherd; smooth (leia ) lips hide a grievous heart". (comp. Mat_23:27)
Vers. 23-28. On guard.
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Unfortunately, we have to treat men as we find them, not as we wish that they were and as their Creator meant them to be. We are compelled to learn caution as we pass on our way.
I OUR FIRST DUTY AND ITS NATURAL REWARD. Our first duty, natural to the young and the unsophisticated, is to be frank, open-minded, sincere, trustful; to say all that is in our heart, and to expect others to do the same; to believe that men mean what they say and say what they mean. And the reward of this simplicity and truthfulness on our part is an ingenuous, an unsuspicious spirit, a spirit as far removed as possible from that of cunning, of artifice, of worldliness.
II THE CORRECTION OF EXPERIENCE. All too soon we discover that we cannot act on this theory without being wounded and hurt. We find that what looks like pure silver may be nothing better than "earthenware of the coarsest kind lacquered over with silver dross." Behind the lips that burn and breathe affection for us and interest in us is a wicked heart in which are "seven abominations," in which dwells every evil imagination. We find that those who affect to be our friends when they stand in our presence are in fact our bitterest and most active enemies. We discover that our words, spoken in good faith and purity of heart, are misrepresented, and are made a sword to smite us. Experience compels caution, reticence, sometimes absolute silence.
III THE TWO MAIN EVILS AGAINST WHICH TO GUARD. These are:
1. Fair speaking which is false. The false words that are ostensibly spoken in our interest, by one that means us harm; words which would lead to trust and expectation when we should be alive with solicitude and alert to avoid the danger which impends. By these our treasure, our position, our friendship, our reputation, our happiness, may he seriously endangered.
2. Flattery. The invention and utterance of that which is not felt at all, or the careless and perhaps well-meant exaggeration of a feeling which is entertained in, the heart. Few things are more potent for harm than flattery.
(1) It is readily received.
(2) It is carefully treasured; men"s self-love prompts them to accept and to retain that which, if it were of an opposite character, they would reject.
(3) It is harmful in three different directions:
(a) It gives a wrong impression of our estate, and may lead to financial "ruin" (ver. 28).
(b) It encourages an over-estimate of our capacity, and may lead to our undertaking that for which we are incompetent, and thus to an humiliating and distressing failure.
(c) It engenders a false idea of our persona! worth, and may lead to spiritual infatuation, and thus to the ruin of ourselves.
IV THE DUTY AND THE WISDOM OF WARINESS. As these things are so, as human society does hold a large number of dissemblers (ver. 24), as it is possible that the next acquaintance we make may be an illustration of this sad fact, it follows that absolute trustfulness is a serious mistake. We must be on our guard. We must not open our hearts too freely. We must know men before we trust them. We must cultivate the art of penetration, of reading character. To be able to distinguish between the true and the false in this great sphere is a very large part of wisdom. Next to knowing God, and to acquainting ourselves with our own hearts, is the duty of studying men and discerning between the lacquered potsherd and the pure silver.
V THE DOOM OF DECEIT. To be rigorously exposed, to be unsparingly denounced, to be utterly ashamed (vers. 26, 27). C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv23–24 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a…
Pro_26:23
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
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Putrefaction phosphorescent
The illuminating power of phosphorus appears due to an extremely slow chemical reaction, and it is affirmed that vegetable and animal substances may grow phosphorescent at a certain stage of decomposition, or even without any appearance of putrefaction. Accredited authorities cite a host of examples of fresh or stale meats which have been seen to shine during the night with a more or less vivid clearness. Fish, and especially salt-water fish, when no longer fresh, acquire a phosphorescence which brightens during the first period, of putrefaction. Leave for two or three days dead saltwater fish in non-luminous sea-water; at the end of that time the water will be covered with a thin pellicle of fatty matter, and will soon become phosphorescent. But it is not only in material nature that we thus find brightness in combination with impurity. Genius itself has been found shining amidst moral putrefaction. (Scientific Illustrations.)
A wicked heart disguising itself
This may be meant either--
1. Of a wicked heart showing itself in burning lips, furious, passionate, outrageous words, burning in malice, and presenting those to whom, or of whom, they are spoken. Ill-words and ill-will agree together as well as a potsherd and the dross of silver, which, now that the pot is broken, and the dross separated from the silver, are fit to be thrown together to the dunghill
2. Or of a wicked heart disguising itself, with burning lips, burning with the professions of love and friendship, and even persecuting a man with flatteries; this is like a potsherd covered with the scum or dross of silver, with which one that is weak may be imposed upon, as if it were of some value, but a wise man is soon aware of the cheat. This sense agrees with the following verses. (Matthew Henry.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v23 Pro_26:23. Burning lips—i.e., “lips whence come ardent expressions of…
CRITICAL NOTES.—
Pro_26:23. Burning lips—i.e., “lips whence come ardent expressions of friendship.” Silver dross. Impure silver not freed from the dross.
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Pro_26:24. Layeth up, rather, “prepareth,” or “meditateth.”
Pro_26:26. Congregation—i.e., “before the people assembled for judgment.” (Zöckler.)
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH—Pro_26:23-28
COUNTERFEIT FRIENDSHIP
I. Because there are true friends in the world false men sometimes put on the garb of friendship. Because there is an abundance of genuine coin in the country men take the trouble to make counterfeit imitations of it; the existence of the good money is the cause of the existence of the bad, and the great preponderance of the good over the bad is the reason why men sometimes get imposed upon and take the bad for the good. So there is much real and true friendship in human life, and there is therefore an opportunity given to wicked men to imitate its outward expression—there are many “burning words” uttered from the depths of a sincere heart, and therefore a wicked man will sometimes utter such words for the purposes of deception. The vessel of clay covered with silver may be taken for silver, because its shape and external appearance are close imitations of the genuine article, and the fair words of the false man may effectually deceive the listener, but it is because some things are what they seem, that other things are made to seem what they are not.
II. The words of true friendship are used to reveal, and those of the false friend are employed only for concealment. There were many silver vessels in Solomon’s palace, and their bright splendour was a true revelation of their intrinsic worth and genuineness; the shining surface reflecting the light was an indication of the preciousness of the entire article. But when a clay vessel is covered with silver, the external coating is used only to cover what is beneath, and perhaps to deceive those who look on it. So when the friendship is real the ardent expressions of affection which are uttered are only a revelation of the emotions which are experienced, but when it is only a counterfeit the words are like the silver which hides instead of revealing what is beneath it. Solomon’s father thus records his experience of the language of a counterfeit friend: “His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords” (Psa_55:21).
III. Because counterfeit friendship is opposed to human happiness it shall be publicly arrested and condemned. Every counterfeit has arrayed against it the force of human interest. It is to the interest of the general community that the forger should be brought to justice, and that the coiner of bad money should be severely punished. It is only by rigidly enforcing the law against such criminals that they are kept in check, and the safety of the public made tolerably secure. When such offenders are discovered their wickedness is condemned by the united voice of the commercial world. But the man who betrays another by false words is quite as great an enemy to his brother man, and ought to be as severely dealt with and as publicly and universally condemned. But it can hardly be affirmed that such is the case. If every such betrayer were dealt with by human laws we should need a large increase of judges and gaolers and prison-cells, and should find within the walls of the latter many men who are now living in mansions. And if they were only punished by being shut out from the favourable notice of their fellow-men, many would be missed from their present positions in commercial and fashionable circles. Although they are shunned, and their wickedness is abhorred by all lovers of truth and honesty, they are far from meeting at the hands of man with the contempt and condemnation which they deserve. But the forces arrayed against such men are nevertheless in operation, and though they often work secretly and slowly they are most certain to find their object, and to make him conscious of their existence. There are other agencies at work in the universe beside human agencies, and a Divine lawgiver as well as human lawgivers. And although the latter may fail to discover those who break their laws, no offender against the law of God will be able to escape public arrest and condemnation, if not before a human congregation, before a higher and more august assembly.
IV. A special form of punishment which will be the special portion of such offenders. The great principle proclaimed by Christ, “With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again” (Mat_7:2), is here uttered by Solomon. Every deceiver will be deceived, and one false man will become the prey of another false man. This is a law which is always and now in operation, although the punishment may not always be discernible to onlookers. But it is a work which the Almighty Judge has taken into His own hands, and many a one who is now suffering from a pitfall laid by another, knows very well in his secret soul that he is only passing through the same experience which he once prepared for another—that if what he took for a silver vessel is only clay, he has himself palmed off the counterfeit article for a genuine one.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Pro_26:28. It is not easy for us to forgive the injuries we receive; but it is far more difficult to forgive the injuries we do.—Lawson.
1. There is the inward self-reproach, arising from the workings of conscience, from which arises a secret irritability and fretfulness and unhappiness; and this produces dislike of the innocent occasion of it, instead of terminating (as it always ought to do) on self. This of course is only more injustice. True; but it is in human nature to hate with a bitter hatred the object of our own crime; as if it were a fault in that object to exist, and so to be the object on which our sin terminates.
2. The evil passions, like the good, are strengthened and increased by their exercise. If the utterance of the feelings of love serves further to inflame love, the utterance, in like manner, of the feelings of hatred tend to inflame hatred. The passion gives birth to the word and the action; and, reciprocally, the word and the action strengthen the passion.
3. The fretful uneasiness produced by the unceasing apprehension of detection and exposure, already alluded to, and of the weight of his vengeance who is the object of the lying tongue’s assaults, gives rise also to the same feeling of rankling dislike to him who is the source of it. Thus the slanderer, instead of feeling pity for the man whom his slander wounds, hates him still the more. This appears to have had a very striking exemplification in the case of our blessed Lord and His Jewish unbelieving adversaries. They “hated Him without a cause.”—Wardlaw.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v24 disguises his feelings with his lips
disguises his feelings with his lips
Disguising his feelings represents keeping people from knowing what his feelings are. The phrase "his lips" is a metonym for what he says. AT: "hides his feelings with what he says" or "speaks in such a way that people cannot know his true feelings" (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)
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he lays up deceit within himself
Being deceitful is spoken of as if he were storing deceit within himself. Possible meanings are that "deceit" refers to lies. AT: "he likes his many lies" or 2) deceit refers secret plans to harm people. AT: "he secretly plans to harm people" (See: Metaphor)
but do not believe him
"but do not believe what he says"
for there are seven abominations in his heart
The number seven represents completeness. Possible meanings are 1) "abominations" refers to attitudes that God hates. AT: "for his heart is completely filled with hateful things" or 2) "abominations" refers to his hatred for people. AT: "for his heart is completely filled with hatred" (See: Metaphor)
Though his hatred is covered with deception
This can be stated actively. AT: "Though deception covers his hatred" or "Though he covers his hatred with deception" (See: Active or Passive)
Though his hatred is covered with deception
Keeping people from knowing that he hates them is spoken of as covering his hatred. AT: "Though he lies to keep people from knowing that he hates them" or "Though he lies so that people will not know that he hates them" (See: Metaphor)
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly
Being exposed represents being discovered or becoming known. AT: "his wickedness will become known in the assembly" or "the assembly will discover his wickedness" (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)
the assembly
"the community of Israel"
translationWords
deceive
grace
believe
abomination
heart
evil
assembly
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v23 26:23-26 People sometimes hide evil attitudes and wicked intentions…
26:23-26 People sometimes hide evil attitudes and wicked intentions through flattery. In the end, the true hatred of smooth talkers will be exposed.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.