Proverbs 25:19

Proverbs 25:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
• New International Version (NIV)Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

Context of Proverbs 25:19

17Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become tired of you and hate you. 18Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance). Like 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. 21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

Proverbs 25:19 word by word

שֵׁ֣ן רֹ֭עָה וְרֶ֣גֶל מוּעָ֑דֶת מִבְטָ֥ח בּ֝וֹגֵ֗ד בְּי֣וֹם צָרָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Confidenceמִבְטָחmibţâch · confidenceH4009
• in an unfaithful manבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898
• in timeיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of troubleצָרָהtsârâh · distressH6869
• a brokenרֹעָהrô‛âh · to shatterH7465
• toothשֵׁןshên · toothH8127
• and a footרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
• out of jointמוּעֶדֶתmû‛edeth · disjointedH4154

Cross-references for Proverbs 25:19

• 2 Chronicles 28:20So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and harassed him instead of strengthening and supporting him.
• Job 6:14“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not abandon (turn away from) the fear of the Almighty.
• Isaiah 30:1“Woe (judgment is coming) to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who carry out a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance [by pouring out a libation], but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;
• Isaiah 36:6Listen carefully, you rely on the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.
• Ezekiel 29:6And all the inhabitants of Egypt will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord, Because they have been [only] a staff made of [fragile] reeds to the house of Israel.
• 2 Timothy 4:16At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God].

Commentaries on Proverbs 25:19

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Stress is to be laid on the uselessness of the “broken tooth” and the “foot out of joint,” or tottering, rather than on the pain connected with them. The King James Version loses the emphasis and point of the Hebrew by inverting the original order, which is “a broken … joint is confidence” etc.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19Verse 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man is painful and vexatious; when we put any stress on him, he not only fails, but makes us feel for it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Treachery annoys as well as deceives.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 25:19

• Friendship
• Hypocrisy

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Debate
• Discover
• Heavy
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Solomon

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