Proverbs 29:5

5 A strong man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

Proverbs 29:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:5

A man that flattereth his neighbour
That speaks smooth things to him gives him flattering titles, speaks fair to his face, highly commends him on one account or another: spreadeth a net for his feet;
has an idle design upon him, and therefore should be guarded against; his view is to draw him into a snare and make a prey of him; he attacks him on his weak side, and hopes to make some advantage of it to himself; wherefore flatterers should be avoided as pernicious persons; or he spreads a net for his own feet, and is taken in the snare which he had laid for his neighbour; or falls into the pit he dug for him, as Gersom observes; see ( Psalms 140:5 ) ( Hosea 5:1 ) .

Proverbs 29:5 In-Context

3 A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad, but the friend of prostitutes will squander his wealth.

4 By justice a king gives stability [to] a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it.

5 A strong man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

6 In transgression, an evil man [is] a snare, but [the] righteous will sing and rejoice.

7 [The] righteous knows [the] case of the poor, but [the] wicked does not understand knowledge.