Mishle 27:6

6 Ne’emanim (faithful) are the wounds of an ohev (friend); but deceitful the neshikot (kisses) of an enemy.

Mishle 27:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 27:6

Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend
That is, friendly reproofs; which, though they may be severe, at least thought so, and may grieve and wound, and cause pain and uneasiness for the present, yet, proceeding from a spirit of love, faithfulness, and integrity, and designed for the good of the person reproved, ought to be kindly received; see ( Psalms 141:5 ) ;

but the kisses of an enemy [are] deceitful;
flow from a deceitful heart, and not to be confided in, as the kisses of Joab and Judas. It may be rather rendered, "are to be deprecated" ^F25; prayed against, as real evils, hurtful and pernicious; and so the Targum renders it, "are evil". Good is the advice of Isocrates ^F26,

``reckon them faithful, not who praise everything thou sayest or doest, but those that reprove what is amiss.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (twrten) "deprecanda", Junius & Tremillius, Piscator, Cocceius, Amama.
F26 Ad Nicoclem, p. 38.

Mishle 27:6 In-Context

4 Chemah (anger) is cruel, and fury is a torrent, but who is able to stand before kinah (jealousy, envy)?

5 Open tovah tokhakhat (good, constructive reproof) is better than secret ahavah.

6 Ne’emanim (faithful) are the wounds of an ohev (friend); but deceitful the neshikot (kisses) of an enemy.

7 The full nefesh trampleth a honeycomb, but to the hungry nefesh every mar (bitter thing) is sweet.

8 As a tzippor that wandereth from her ken (nest), so is an ish that wandereth from his makom (place, home).