Proverbs 17:9

Proverbs 17:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

Context of Proverbs 17:9

7It does not seem right when a fool says clever things. It is certainly not right when a ruler tells lies. 8Somebody who offers a bribe thinks that it will work like magic. It will help him to do whatever he wants to do. If you forgive people when they hurt you, they will still love you. But if you continue to talk about what they have done, they will no longer be your friends. 10You can warn a wise person once and he will learn what is right. But a fool never learns, even if you hit him a hundred times. 11An evil person never obeys authority, so a cruel messenger will come to punish him.

Proverbs 17:9 word by word

מְֽכַסֶּה־פֶּ֭שַׁע מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה וְשֹׁנֶ֥ה בְ֝דָבָ֗ר מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that coverethכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
• a transgressionפֶּ֫שַׁעpesha‛ · transgressionH6588
• seekethבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• loveאַהֲבָה'ahăbâh · loveH160
• but he that repeatethשָׁנָהshânâh · to repeatH8138
• a matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• separatethפָּרַדpârad · to separateH6504
• friendsאַלּוּף'alûph 'allûph · tameH441

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:9

• Proverbs 10:12When people hate others, it causes arguments. But love covers over all sins.
• Psalms 32:1When God has forgiven someone's sins, they are truly happy! They may have turned against God, but when God forgives them, they are happy.
• 1 Peter 4:8Continue to love each other very much. That is more important than anything else. If you love people, you will forgive them for any wrong things that they have done.
• Proverbs 16:28People who tell lies cause arguments. If you tell people's secrets, you will lose all your friends.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Seeketh love - i. e., Takes the course which leads to his gaining it. He that repeateth a matter - The warning is directed against that which leads a man to dwell with irritating iteration on a past offence instead of burying it in oblivion. Separateth very friends - Better, alienateth his chief friend. The tale-bearer works injury to himself.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9Verse 9 The way to preserve peace is to make the best of every thing; not to notice what has been said or done against ourselves.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9To have a good relationship, forgive others instead of focusing on their mistakes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. seeketh love--(Compare Margin). The contrast is between the peace-maker and tale-bearer.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:9

• Charitableness
• Friendship
• Love
• Slander
• Speaking
• Talebearer

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Fool; Folly
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

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