Proverbs 26:19
in Proverbs 26so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
KJV
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
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This verse in Proverbs 26
Commentary
4 notes on this verseSo is the man that deceiveth his neighbour,.... By telling him a lie; or by reporting false things concerning him; or by cheating him in trade and commerce; or by taking his goods privately from him; and, when caught in either of these, and saith, Am not I in sport? do not be angry, I designed no hurt; it is all in jest, a mere joke: but, had he not been apprehended, it would have been in earnest, as he was.
This site's exposition
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears
on Proverbs 26:17-22
A passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own has grabbed a dog by the ears, safe neither holding on nor letting go. The man who deceives his neighbor and calls it a joke is a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows. Strife dies when no one feeds it.
This site's exposition
the man who deceives his neighbor
The man who deceives his neighbor says he was only joking once he is caught. John Gill lists the deceptions as a lie, a false report, cheating in trade or quiet theft. Uncaught, he would have meant it.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Am not I in sport? - How many hearts have been made sad, and how many reputations have been slain, by this kind of sport! “I designed no harm by what I said;” “It was only in jest,” etc. Sportive as such persons may think their conduct to be, it is as ruinous as that of the mad man who shoots arrows, throws firebrands, and projects in all directions instruments of death, so that some are wounded, some burnt, and some slain.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כֵּֽן־ | ken- | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| אִ֭ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| רִמָּ֣ה | rimah | [who] he deceives | H7411 → | |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| רֵעֵ֑הוּ | reehu | neighbor his | H7453 → | 188 times |
| וְ֝אָמַ֗ר | veamar | and he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| הֲֽלֹא־ | halo'- | ¿ not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| מְשַׂחֵ֥ק | mesachek | jesting | H7832 → | 36 times |
| אָֽנִי׃ | ʾani | [was] I | H589 → | 874 times |
כֵּֽן־so
ken-H3651 →771 times
אִ֭ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
רִמָּ֣ה[who] he deceives
rimahH7411 →
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
רֵעֵ֑הוּneighbor his
reehuH7453 →188 times
וְ֝אָמַ֗רand he says
veamarH559 →5305 times
הֲֽלֹא־¿ not
halo'-H3808 →5168 times
מְשַׂחֵ֥קjesting
mesachekH7832 →36 times
אָֽנִי׃[was] I
ʾaniH589 →874 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 5:4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
it leads to
- Colossians 3:8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- James 3:4–8
Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
- Colossians 3:8
Through
Proverbs 15:21Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
it leads to
- Proverbs 10:23
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 10:23
Through
Proverbs 14:9Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
it leads to
- Proverbs 26:18–19
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 26:18–19
Through
2 Peter 2:13The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with…
it leads to
- Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
- Romans 13:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.