What does Proverbs 26:23 mean?
ESV: Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
NIV: Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
NASB: Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
CSB: Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel.
NLT: Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
KJV: Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
NKJV: Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
Verse Commentary:
Clay is a relatively common, coarse substance. A thin coating of glaze makes it appear more attractive but doesn't change the essential nature of the clay. The Hebrew phrasing used here implies painting something with the dross—impure metals—removed when purifying silver. The broad concept at work is when one deceptively coats an inherently cheap or worthless substance. A related English expression is the attempt to "put lipstick on a pig," referring to disguising something disagreeable.
The person with "fervent lips" is one using intense, passionate language or flattery. The meaning is similar to "hypocrisy:" to say one thing while believing something else. Here, it specifically means a person who disguises evil intent using clever words. Careful phrases, flattery, and compelling words can make evil seem attractive, at first. It can also disguise the real intent behind a conversation. Keeping up appearances to appear pious is another way "fervent lips" can disguise sinful hearts. In Matthew 23:25 Jesus condemned hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." Their outward appearance misrepresented their foul, inward spiritual decay.
The following verse says this kind of deception indicates "hate." It implies contempt for the person being lied to.
Verse Context:
Proverbs 26:17–28 turns from a focus on laziness to discussion about conflict. Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) warns against prying into other people's arguments, gossip, and dishonest speech. He also cautions about the danger of casual lies. How and when a person chooses to speak greatly influences their involvement in conflict.
Chapter Summary:
This chapter includes three main sections. The first repeatedly refers to a "fool," meaning someone lacking godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). The second warns against being lazy. The third condemns careless conflict, lying, and warns about those who disguise their hate with words. Several statements in this passage repeat or echo others made in the book of Proverbs.
Chapter Context:
Chapter 25 introduced another section of Solomon's proverbs (Proverbs 25:1). These were collected by later scribes; the list runs through the end of chapter 29. This chapter covers topics such as foolishness, laziness, and conflict. This echoes principles given in other proverbs.
Book Summary:
Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.
Accessed 5/4/2024 8:43:47 AM
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Text from ESV, NIV, NASB, CSB, NLT, KJV, NKJV © Copyright respective owners, used by permission.
