Proverbs 13:17
in Proverbs 13A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
KJV
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
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This verse in Proverbs 13
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA wicked messenger - The Septuagint: basileuv yrasuev, a bold king; instead of מלאך malach, a messenger, they had read מלך melech, a king: but they are singular in this rendering; none of the other versions have it so. He that betrays the counsels of his government, or the interests of his country, will sooner or later fall into mischief; but he that faithfully and loyally fulfils his mission, shall produce honor and safety to the commonwealth.
This site's exposition
Every prudent man acts with knowledge
on Proverbs 13:16-19
“Every prudent man acts with knowledge,” weighing what he says, while “a fool displays his folly” for anyone to see. The cluster closes on a near law of the soul: “Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools”.
This site's exposition
A wicked messenger falls into trouble
A messenger carried his master's word and his master's interests. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown read wicked here as unfaithful, the envoy who falls into trouble and whose errand fails. A faithful envoy brings healing to those who sent him.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
"The messenger of the wicked falls into trouble." He refers to Arius and Sabellius, and other angels, that is, messengers of Satan, who, because they neglected the counsel of the divine Scriptures, fell into the trouble of hellish torments. "But the faithful envoy is health." …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief,.... That does not do his errand right, nor deliver his message faithfully; such an one falls from the degree of honour in which he was into disgrace; he loses his master's favour that sent him; he is degraded from his post and office: he falls "by evil", or "into evil" (r); by the evil of sin, into the evil of punishment.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
A wicked--or, "unfaithful" messenger falleth into mischief--or, "by mischief," or "evil," and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others.
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מַלְאָ֣ךְ | malakh | a messenger | H4397 → | 213 times |
| רָ֭שָׁע | rasho' | wicked | H7563 → | 263 times |
| יִפֹּ֣ל | yipol | he falls | H5307 → | 435 times |
| בְּרָ֑ע | bera' | in trouble | H7451 → | 662 times |
| וְצִ֖יר | vetzir | and an envoy of | H6735 → | 12 times |
| אֱמוּנִ֣ים | ʾemunim | faithfulness<es> | H529 → | 8 times |
| מַרְפֵּֽא׃ | marpe' | [is] healing | H4832 → | 16 times |
מַלְאָ֣ךְa messenger
malakhH4397 →213 times
רָ֭שָׁעwicked
rasho'H7563 →263 times
יִפֹּ֣לhe falls
yipolH5307 →435 times
בְּרָ֑עin trouble
bera'H7451 →662 times
וְצִ֖ירand an envoy of
vetzirH6735 →12 times
אֱמוּנִ֣יםfaithfulness<es>
ʾemunimH529 →8 times
מַרְפֵּֽא׃[is] healing
marpe'H4832 →16 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
1 Corinthians 4:2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Luke 12:42
And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
- Luke 16:10–12
Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- Matthew 25:21
Through
2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:20
for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
- Luke 14:23
So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
- Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
- Ezekiel 18:31–32
Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
- Ephesians 6:20
Through
1 Timothy 1:12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Philippians 4:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.