Proverbs 27:21

21 As silver is proved in a welling place, and gold is proved in a furnace; so a man is proved by the mouth of his praisers (so a person is proved, or assayed, by the words of his praisers).

Proverbs 27:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 27:21

[As] the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold
For the trying, proving, and purifying these metals; see ( Proverbs 17:3 ) ; so [is] a man to his praise;
or "according to the mouth of his praise" {p}; if his own mouth praises him, as in ( Proverbs 27:2 ) ;, he is known to be what he is, a foolish and vainglorious person: or "so a man is proved by the mouth of him that praises him", as the Vulgate Latin version; or "of them that praise him", as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and so the Targum: the meaning is, either a man is known by the persons that praise him, according to what their characters are; if he is praised by good and virtuous men, he may be thought to be so himself; and if by wicked men, he may be concluded to be so likewise; see ( Proverbs 28:4 ) ; or he is known by the effect that praise has upon him; if it swells him with pride, and makes him haughty, conceited, and overbearing, he will appear to be a weak and foolish man; but if he continues modest and humble, and studious and diligent to answer his character, thankful to God for what he has, and to whom he gives all the glory, he will approve himself a wise and good man.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (wllhm ypl) "ad os laudis suae", Gejerus.

Proverbs 27:21 In-Context

19 As the cheers of men beholding (themselves) shine in waters; so the hearts of men be open to prudent men. (Like the faces of people beholding themselves shine in the water; so people's hearts be open to prudent people.)

20 Hell and perdition shall not be filled; so and the eyes of men be not able to be (ful)filled. (Sheol, or the land of the dead, and perdition/Hell and perdition shall never be filled full; and the eyes, or the appetites, of people shall never be fulfilled, or satisfied.)

21 As silver is proved in a welling place, and gold is proved in a furnace; so a man is proved by the mouth of his praisers (so a person is proved, or assayed, by the words of his praisers).

22 Though thou poundedest a fool in a mortar, as with a pestle smiting above dried barley (like pounding dried barley with a pestle), his folly shall not be done away from him.

23 Know thou diligently the cheer of thy beast; and behold thou thy flocks. (Diligently know the faces of thy beasts; and keep watch thou over thy flocks.)