Proverbs 17:4

Proverbs 17:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
• New International Version (NIV)A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
• English Standard Version (ESV)An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
• New King James Version (NKJV)An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

Context of Proverbs 17:4

2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children. 3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander. 5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. 6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

Proverbs 17:4 word by word

מֵ֭רַע מַקְשִׁ֣יב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָ֑וֶן שֶׁ֥קֶר מֵ֝זִין עַל־לְשׁ֥וֹן הַוֹּֽת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wicked doerרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• giveth heedקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• to falseאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• a liarשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• giveth earאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• to a naughtyהַוָּהhavvâh · desireH1942
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:4

• Proverbs 28:4To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.
• 1 Samuel 22:17And he ordered his bodyguards, “Kill these priests of the Lord, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn’t tell me!” But Saul’s men refused to kill the Lord’s priests.
• 1 Kings 22:6So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?” They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”
• Isaiah 30:10They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.
• Jeremiah 5:31the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. Worse yet, my people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?
• 2 Timothy 4:3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
• 1 John 4:5Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.
• Revelation 13:3I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4A wicked doer giveth heed - An evil heart is disposed and ever ready to receive evil; and liars delight in lies.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The two clauses describe two phases of the mutual affinities of evil. The evil-doer delights in lies, the liar in bad words.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Flatterers, especially false teachers, are welcome to those that live in sin.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Lies (Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25; 25:18), gossip (11:13; 18:8), and slander (10:18) twist the truth to harm others.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Wicked doers and speakers alike delight in calumny.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:4

• Falsehood
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Lie; Lying
• Lip
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• 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