Proverbs 25:7
in Proverbs 25for it is better that he says to you, “Come up here!” than that you should be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
KJV
For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
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This verse in Proverbs 25
Commentary
4 notes on this verseCome up hither - Our Lord refers to this, see Luk 14:8 (note), and the notes there. Be humble; affect not high things; let those who are desperate climb dangerous precipices; keep thyself quiet, and thou shalt live at ease, and in peace. Hear the speech of a wise heathen on this subject: - Quid fuit, ut tutas agitaret Daedalus alas; Icarus immensas nomine signet aquas? Nempe quod hic alte, dimissus ille volabat. Nam pennas ambo nonne habuere suas? Crede mihi; bene qui latuit, bene vixit; et infra Fortunam debet quisque manere suam.
This site's exposition
Do not exalt yourself in the presence
on Proverbs 25:6-7
"Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king" counsels modesty in rank. The reason anticipates the Gospels: it is better to be told "Come up here." Henry notes that older writers heard the same principle in Christ's parable of the wedding guest at Luke 14:8-10, humility rewarded.
This site's exposition
it is better that he says to you
The man who takes the place of great men may be demoted, and the humble man is told to come up here. Christ's teaching at Luke 14:8 to 10 takes its outward form from this saying, as Albert Barnes and Adam Clarke both note. Barnes calls the boastful temper self-defeating.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither,....
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| ט֥וֹב | tov | [is] better | H2896 → | 538 times |
| אֲמָר־ | ʾamor- | to say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לְךָ֗ | lekha | to you | ||
| עֲֽלֵ֫ה | ʾaleh | come up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| הֵ֥נָּה | henah | here | H2008 → | 49 times |
| מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָ | mehashpilekha | than to set low you | H8213 → | 31 times |
| לִפְנֵ֣י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| נָדִ֑יב | nadiv | a noble [person] | H5081 → | 29 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֖ר | ʾasher | whom | H834 → | 5497 times |
| רָא֣וּ | rau | they have seen | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| עֵינֶֽיךָ׃ | ʾeineikha | eyes your | H5869 → | 887 times |
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
ט֥וֹב[is] better
tovH2896 →538 times
אֲמָר־to say
ʾamor-H559 →5305 times
לְךָ֗to you
lekha
עֲֽלֵ֫הcome up
ʾalehH5927 →890 times
הֵ֥נָּהhere
henahH2008 →49 times
מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָthan to set low you
mehashpilekhaH8213 →31 times
לִפְנֵ֣י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
נָדִ֑יבa noble [person]
nadivH5081 →29 times
אֲשֶׁ֖רwhom
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
רָא֣וּthey have seen
rauH7200 →1300 times
עֵינֶֽיךָ׃eyes your
ʾeineikhaH5869 →887 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 Peter 5:5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
it leads to
- James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Proverbs 3:34
He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
- Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- James 4:6
Through
Revelation 4:1After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show…
it leads to
- Revelation 11:12
And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.
- Revelation 11:12
Through
Luke 18:14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
it leads to
- Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Luke 14:11
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); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.