Proverbs 25:18

Proverbs 25:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
• New International Version (NIV)Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Context of Proverbs 25:18

16Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as you need, Otherwise, being filled excessively, you vomit it. 17Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become tired of you and hate you. Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance). 19Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot Is confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble. 20Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda, Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.

Proverbs 25:18 word by word

מֵפִ֣יץ וְ֭חֶרֶב וְחֵ֣ץ שָׁנ֑וּן אִ֥ישׁ עֹנֶ֥ה בְ֝רֵעֵ֗הוּ עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• that bearethעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• falseשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
• against his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• a maulמֵפִיץmêphîyts · war-clubH4650
• and a swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• and a sharpשָׁנַןshânan · to sharpenH8150
• arrowחֵץchêts · arrowH2671

Cross-references for Proverbs 25:18

• Proverbs 12:18There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
• Psalms 55:21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But his heart was hostile; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
• Psalms 57:4My life is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe out fire— The sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
• Psalms 120:3What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, You deceitful tongue?—
• Psalms 140:3They sharpen their tongues like a serpent’s; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.
• Jeremiah 9:3“They bend their tongue like their bow; [Their] lies and not truth prevail and grow strong in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know and understand and acknowledge Me,” says the Lord.
• James 3:6And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna).

Commentaries on Proverbs 25:18

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Maul - A heavy sledge hammer. The word is connected with “malleus:” its diminutive “mallet” is still in use.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 A false testimony is dangerous in every thing.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Lying can lead to serious consequences (see Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. A false witness is as destructive to reputation, as such weapons to the body (Pr 24:28). beareth ... witness--literally, "answereth questions," as before a judge, against his neighbor.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 25:18

• Arrow
• False Teachers
• Maul
• Sword

In the dictionaries

• Armour
• Arrow
• Arrows
• Debate
• Discover
• Heavy
• Maul
• Armor; Arms
• Hezekiah (2)
• Neighbor

Commentaries on Proverbs 25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings