God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 27:5
5Open criticism is better than unexpressed love.
Proverbs 27:5 in other versions
Context of Proverbs 27:5
3A stone is heavy, and sand weighs a lot, but annoyance caused by a stubborn fool is heavier than both. 4Anger is cruel, and fury is overwhelming, but who can survive jealousy? Open criticism is better than unexpressed love. 6Wounds made by a friend are intended to help, but an enemy’s kisses are too much to bear. 7One who is full despises honey, but to one who is hungry, even bitter food tastes 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 criticizes people will be more highly regarded in the future than the one who flatters with his tongue.
- Leviticus 19:17“Never hate another Israelite. Be sure to correct your neighbor so that you will not be guilty of sinning along with him.
- Matthew 18:15“If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.
- Galatians 2:14But I saw that they were not properly following the truth of the Good News. So I told Cephas in front of everyone, “You’re Jewish, but you live like a person who is not Jewish. So how can you insist that people who are not Jewish must live like Jews?”
- 1 Timothy 5:20Reprimand those leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that the other leaders will also be afraid.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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