Mishle 16:27

27 An ish Beliya’al diggeth up ra’ah, and in his sfatayim (lips) there is as a scorching eish.

Mishle 16:27 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:27

An ungodly man diggeth up evil
Or "a man of Belial" ^F16, a worthless unprofitable man; a man without a yoke, not obedient to the law of God; such a man digs for sin as for a treasure; nor need he go far for it, he has enough in his own heart, out of the evil treasure of which he brings forth evil things; though he is more solicitious and diligent to search into the sins of others, and dig up them, which have long lain buried; as the Manichees raked up the sins of Austin in his youth; and as the Papists served Beza: but perhaps the evil of mischief is here rather intended, which a wicked man contrives and devises; a ditch he digs for others, though oftentimes he falls into it himself; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "digs evils for himself"; not intentionally but eventually; see ( Psalms 7:15 ) ; and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire;
his tongue is a fire, it is set on fire of hell, and it sets on fire the course of nature; and with its lies, calumnies, and detractions, devours and consumer the good names, characters, and credit of men; and deserves no other than sharp arrows of the Almighty, and coals of juniper; even the everlasting fire and flames of hell, ( James 3:6 ) ( Psalms 52:2 Psalms 52:4 ) ( Psalms 120:3 Psalms 120:4 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (leylb vya) "vir Belijahal", Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus.

Mishle 16:27 In-Context

25 There is a derech that seemeth yashar (right) before an ish, but its acharit (future, latter end) is the drakhei mavet.

26 The nefesh (appetite) of the laborer works for him, for his peh (mouth) of hunger driveth him on.

27 An ish Beliya’al diggeth up ra’ah, and in his sfatayim (lips) there is as a scorching eish.

28 A perverse ish soweth madon (strife, dissension), and a whisperer separateth close friends.

29 An ish chamas enticeth his re’a, and leadeth him into the derech that is not good.