Proverbs 26:24

24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but {inside} he will harbor deceit.

Proverbs 26:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:24

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips
He that bears a grudge in his mind, and retains hatred in his heart against any person, hides it all he can, till he has an opportunity of showing it as he would; he pretends a great deal of friendship with his lips, that his hatred might not be known; he would be thought to be a friend, when he is really an enemy; he does not choose as yet to make himself known what he is. Some render it to a sense the reverse, "the enemy", or "he that hateth, is known by his lips" F12; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions: if you carefully watch him, mark his words, and observe what he says, you will find out the hatred that lies in his heart; he cannot forbear saying something, at one time or another, which betrays the malignity of his mind; and layeth up deceit within him;
or, "though F13 he layeth up" hides it as much as he can, yet it will show itself in some way or another.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (rkny) "agnoscetur", Montanus, Vatablus; "cognoscetur", Tigurine version; "cognoscitur", Amama, so Luther.
F13 (w) "quamvis", Luther. apud Gejerus, Baynus.

Proverbs 26:24 In-Context

22 The words of a whisperer [are] like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
23 [Like] {impure silver} which overlays an earthen vessel, [so are] smooth lips and an evil heart.
24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but {inside} he will harbor deceit.
25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "in his midst"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.