Proverbs 11:13

Proverbs 11:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
• New International Version (NIV)A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Context of Proverbs 11:13

11A city becomes great when honest men bring God's blessing to it. But when wicked people give bad advice, they will destroy the city. 12When someone insults his neighbour, it shows that he is foolish. But a wise person stays quiet. If a person talks too much about other people, he will soon tell their secrets. But someone that you can trust will not tell your secrets to other people. 14A nation will fall if it has no wise leaders. But it will do well if there are people who give good advice. 15If you promise to pay a stranger's debt, you will be sorry. You will be safe if you do not agree to do that.

Proverbs 11:13 word by word

הוֹלֵ֣ךְ רָ֭כִיל מְגַלֶּה־סּ֑וֹד וְנֶאֱמַן־ר֝֗וּחַ מְכַסֶּ֥ה דָבָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A talebearerרָכִילrâkîyl · slanderH7400
• A talebearerהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• revealethגָּלָהgâlâh · to reveal: revealH1540
• secretsסוֹדsôd · counselH5475
• but he that is of a faithfulאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
• spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• concealethכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
• the matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697

Cross-references for Proverbs 11:13

• Proverbs 20:19Keep away from people who talk too much. They will tell everybody about your secrets.
• Leviticus 19:16You must not speak bad words about other people. If somebody is in danger of death, do not keep quiet if you know the truth. I am the Lord.
• Proverbs 25:9If you argue with your neighbour, do not tell his secrets to other people.
• Proverbs 26:20Without wood, a fire stops burning. When people do not tell their friends' secrets, quarrels stop.
• Nehemiah 6:17During this time, the leaders in Judah were sending letters to Tobiah. Tobiah was also sending his replies to them.
• Proverbs 14:5A faithful person will not tell lies in court. But someone who says false things, always deceives.
• Joshua 2:14The men replied, ‘We promise to do that. If anyone kills you or your family, may we die too! Do not tell anyone about us. When the Lord gives us this land, we will be kind to you. We will save your lives.’
• Jeremiah 38:27All the officers did come to Jeremiah to ask him about his meeting with the king. Jeremiah said to them everything that the king had told him to say. Nobody had heard what Jeremiah and the king had really talked about. So the officers stopped asking Jeremiah any more questions.

Commentaries on Proverbs 11:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13A talebearer - רכיל הולך holech rachil, the walking busybody, the trader in scandal. Revealeth secrets - Whatever was confided to him he is sure to publish abroad. The word means a hawker, or travelling chapman. Such are always great newsmongers; and will tell even their own secrets, rather than have nothing to say.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13The man who comes to us with tales about others will reveal our secrets also. Faithfulness is shown, not only in doing what a man has been commissioned to do, but in doing it quietly and without garrulity.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 A faithful man will not disclose what he is trusted with, unless the honour of God and the real good of society require it.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13This view on gossip is echoed in Proverbs 20:19.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. tale-bearer--(Compare Margin), one trading as a peddler in scandal, whose propensity to talk leads him to betray confidence.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 11:13

• Friendship
• Gossip
• Prudence
• Speaking
• Talebearer

In the dictionaries

• Poetry
• Profit
• Pursue
• Scatter
• Secret
• Smart
• Suretiship
• Surety
• Void
• God

Commentaries on Proverbs 11

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings