Proverbs 25:23

Proverbs 25:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
• New Living Translation (NLT)As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

Context of Proverbs 25:23

21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look. 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. 25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

Proverbs 25:23 word by word

ר֣וּחַ צָ֭פוֹן תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל גָּ֑שֶׁם וּפָנִ֥ים נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים לְשׁ֣וֹן סָֽתֶר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The northצָפוֹןtsâphôn tsâphôn · northH6828
• windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• driveth awayחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: give birthH2342
• rainגֶּ֫שֶׁםgeshem · rainH1653
• an angryזָעַםzâ‛am · be indignantH2194
• countenanceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• a backbitingסֵ֫תֶרsêther sithrâh · secrecyH5643
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956

Cross-references for Proverbs 25:23

• Job 37:22Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
• Psalms 15:3whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;
• Psalms 101:5Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.
• Romans 1:30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

Commentaries on Proverbs 25:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23The north wind driveth away rain - The margin has, "The north wind bringeth forth rain." It is said that the "north wind brings forth rain at Jerusalem, because it brings with it the vapours arising from the sea that lies north of it." The marginal is the true reading; and is supported by the Chaldee, Syriac, and Septuagint; but the Arabic reads south wind. A backbiting tongue - A hidden tongue.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The marginal reading is far more accurate and gives a better sense. The northwest wind in Palestine commonly brings rain, and this was probably in the thought of the writer.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. Sin, if it receives any check, becomes cowardly.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Better, "As the north wind bringeth forth (Psa 90:2) or produces rain, so does a concealed or slandering tongue produce anger."Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 25:23

• Backbiting
• Countenance
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Rain
• Slander
• Speaking
• Wind

In the dictionaries

• Arrow
• Backbite
• Debate
• Discover
• Heavy
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Rainfall in Jerusalem in Inches
• Solomon
• Wind

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