Proverbs 17:4

Proverbs 17:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
• New International Version (NIV)A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
• English Standard Version (ESV)An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
• New King James Version (NKJV)An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

Context of Proverbs 17:4

2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers. 3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the Lord is the tester of hearts. A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished. 6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of children is their fathers.

Proverbs 17:4 word by word

מֵ֭רַע מַקְשִׁ֣יב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָ֑וֶן שֶׁ֥קֶר מֵ֝זִין עַל־לְשׁ֥וֹן הַוֹּֽת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wicked doerרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• giveth heedקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• to falseאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• a liarשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• giveth earאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• to a naughtyהַוָּהhavvâh · desireH1942
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:4

• Proverbs 28:4Those who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.
• 1 Samuel 22:17Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.
• 1 Kings 22:6So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?” They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
• Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy the truth to us. Tell us flattering things. Prophesy illusions.
• Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it like this. But what will you do at the end of it?
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
• 1 John 4:5They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.
• Revelation 13:3One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4A wicked doer giveth heed - An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The two clauses describe two phases of the mutual affinities of evil. The evil-doer delights in lies, the liar in bad words.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Flatterers, especially false teachers, are welcome to those that live in sin.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Lies (Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25; 25:18), gossip (11:13; 18:8), and slander (10:18) twist the truth to harm others.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Wicked doers and speakers alike delight in calumny.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:4

• Falsehood
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Lie; Lying
• Lip
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• 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