English Standard Version
Proverbs 27:5
5Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Proverbs 27:5 in other versions
Context of Proverbs 27:5
3A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. 4Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. 7One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
Read all of Proverbs 27Proverbs 27:5 word by word
ט֭וֹבָה תּוֹכַ֣חַת מְגֻלָּ֑ה מֵֽאַהֲבָ֥ה מְסֻתָּֽרֶת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 27:5
- Proverbs 28:23Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.
- Leviticus 19:17"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
- Matthew 18:15"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
- Galatians 2:14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"
- 1 Timothy 5:20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
Commentaries on Proverbs 27:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Open rebuke is better than secret love - Plutarch gives an account of a man who, aiming a blow at his enemy's life, cut open an imposthume, which by a salutary discharge saved his life, that was sinking under a disease for which a remedy could not be found. Partial friendship covers faults; envy, malice, and revenge, will exhibit, heighten, and even multiply them. The former conceals us from ourselves; the latter shows us the worst part of our character…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Secret love - Better, love that is hidden; i. e., love which never shows itself in this one way of rebuking faults. Rebuke, whether from friend or foe, is better than such love.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-6Verses 5-6 Plain and faithful rebukes are better, not only than secret hatred, but than love which compliments in sin, to the hurt of the soul.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5A rebuke can improve life by correcting harmful behavior (Proverbs 13:1; 14:6). Hidden, unexpressed love has no value.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-65-6. secret love--not manifested in acts is useless; and even, if its exhibition by rebukes wounds us, such love is preferable to the frequent (compare Margin), and hence deceitful, kisses of an enemy.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 27:5
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
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