Proverbs 25:12

Proverbs 25:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
• New International Version (NIV)Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

Context of Proverbs 25:12

10Or one who hears it will put you to shame, And the evil report about you will not pass away. 11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, Is a word spoken at the proper time. Like an earring of gold and a jewelry piece of fine gold, Is a wise person who offers rebukes to a listening ear. 13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14Like clouds and wind without rain Is a person who boasts of his gifts falsely.

Proverbs 25:12 word by word

נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב וַחֲלִי־כָ֑תֶם מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם עַל־אֹ֥זֶן שֹׁמָֽעַת׃Read the interlinear

• earringנֶ֫זֶםnezem · ringH5141
• of goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
• jewelryחֲלִיchălîy · ornamentH2481
• fineכֶּ֫תֶםkethem · goldH3800
• Is a wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• who offersיָכַחyâkach · to rebukeH3198
• listeningשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• earאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · earH241

Cross-references for Proverbs 25:12

• Job 42:11Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they sympathized with him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.
• Proverbs 1:8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And do not ignore your mother’s teaching;
• Proverbs 9:8Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you; Rebuke a wise person and he will love you.
• Proverbs 15:5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
• Proverbs 27:5Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
• 1 Samuel 25:31this will not become an obstacle to you, or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord’s having avenged himself. When the Lord deals well with my lord, then remember your slave.”
• Psalms 141:5May the righteous strike me with mercy and discipline me; It is oil for the head; My head shall not refuse it, For my prayer is still against their evil deeds.

Commentaries on Proverbs 25:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12As an ear-ring of gold - I believe נזם nezem to mean the nose-ring with its pendants; the left nostril is pierced, and a ring put through it, as in the ear. This is very common in almost every part of the East, among women of condition. This is a farther illustration of the above metaphor.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The theme of this proverb being the same as that of Proverbs 25:11, its occurrence suggests the thought that rings used as ornaments for ears, or nose, or forehead, and other trinkets formed part of the works of art spoken of in the foregoing note, and that the king had something at once pointed and wise to say of each of them.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-12Verses 11-12 A word of counsel, or reproof, rightly spoken, is especially beautiful, as fine fruit becomes still more beautiful in silver baskets.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12Timely advice and valid criticism are valuable, beautiful, and rare (see also Proverbs 15:23; 26:7, 9). We should welcome them (see Proverbs 10:17; 13:1, 10; 15:24, 31–32; 17:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Those who desire to know and do rightly, most highly esteem good counsel (Pr 9:9; 15:31). The listening ear is better than one hung with gold.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 25:12

• Ear-Ring
• Reproof

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Debate
• Discover
• Gold
• Heavy
• Hezekiah (2)
• Nose-Jewels
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Solomon

Commentaries on Proverbs 25

• 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