Proverbs 17:7
in Proverbs 17Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
KJV
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
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This verse in Proverbs 17
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The margin renderings are more literal and give greater emphasis. What is pointed out is not the unfitness of lying lips for the princely-hearted, but the necessity of harmony, in each case, between character and speech.
This site's exposition
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged
on Proverbs 17:6-9
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and the glory of a son is his father, an honour running down and up the generations. "Eloquent words are unfit for a fool," and lying lips are worse in a ruler, since rank raises the stakes of what a mouth says.
This site's exposition
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool
Albert Barnes reads the verse as a call for harmony between character and speech in each case. Eloquent words sit badly on a fool, and lying lips sit worse on a ruler. Rank raises the cost of a lie.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Excellent speech becometh not a fool,.... A wicked man. Eloquence, or a sublime grand way of speaking, a copiousness and fluency of expression, become not such; because hereby he may be capable of doing more mischief; or such a style is unsuitable to the subject of his discourse, which is nothing but folly and wickedness.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Excellent speech becometh not a fool - This proverb is suitable to those who affect, in public speaking, fine language, which neither comports with their ordinary conversation, nor with their education. Often fine words are injudiciously brought in, and are as unbecoming and irrelevant as a cart wheel among clockwork.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָאוָ֣ה | navah | [is] suitable | H5000 → | 10 times |
| לְנָבָ֣ל | lenaval | for a fool | H5036 → | 18 times |
| שְׂפַת־ | sefat- | a lip of | H8193 → | 176 times |
| יֶ֑תֶר | yeter | excellence | H3499 → | |
| אַ֝֗ף | ʾaf | indeed? | H637 → | 134 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לְנָדִ֥יב | lenadiv | for a noble [person] | H5081 → | 29 times |
| שְׂפַת־ | sefat- | a lip of | H8193 → | 176 times |
| שָֽׁקֶר׃ | shaker | deception | H8267 → | 113 times |
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
נָאוָ֣ה[is] suitable
navahH5000 →10 times
לְנָבָ֣לfor a fool
lenavalH5036 →18 times
שְׂפַת־a lip of
sefat-H8193 →176 times
יֶ֑תֶרexcellence
yeterH3499 →
אַ֝֗ףindeed?
ʾafH637 →134 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
לְנָדִ֥יבfor a noble [person]
lenadivH5081 →29 times
שְׂפַת־a lip of
sefat-H8193 →176 times
שָֽׁקֶר׃deception
shakerH8267 →113 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
Proverbs 12:19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
- Psalms 52:4–5
You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.
- Job 20:5
the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
- Proverbs 19:9
Through
2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
- Exodus 18:21
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- 2 Samuel 22:32
For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
- Psalms 72:2
May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.
- Deuteronomy 32:4
Through
Job 34:12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
it leads to
- Job 8:3
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
- Job 8:3
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).