English Standard Version
Proverbs 27:19
19As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.
Proverbs 27:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
- New International Version (NIV)As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.
- New Living Translation (NLT)As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.
Context of Proverbs 27:19
17Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored. As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. 21The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:19 word by word
כַּ֭מַּיִם הַפָּנִ֣ים לַפָּנִ֑ים כֵּ֤ן לֵֽב־הָ֝אָדָ֗ם לָאָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:19
- James 1:22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
- Genesis 6:5The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
- Psalms 33:15he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
- Mark 7:21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19As in water face answereth to face - All men's hearts are pretty nearly alike; water is not more like to water, than one heart is to another. Or, as a man sees his face perfectly reflected by the water, when looking into it; so the wise and penetrating man sees generally what is in the heart of another by considering the general tenor of his words and actions. "Surely, if each man saw another's heart There would be no commerce; All would disperse, And…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19As we see our own face when we look on the mirror-like surface of the water, so in every heart of man we may see our own likeness. In spite of all diversities we come upon the common human nature in which we all alike share. Others see in the reference to the reflection in the water the thought that we judge of others by ourselves, find them faithful or the reverse, as we ourselves are.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19Verse 19 One corrupt heart is like another; so are sanctified hearts: the former bear the same image of the earthly, the latter the same image of the heavenly. Let us carefully watch our own hearts, comparing them with the word of God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. We may see our characters in the developed tempers of others.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 27
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries