Proverbs 13:5

5 A just man shall loathe a false word; but a wicked man shameth, and shall be shamed. (The righteous loathe a lie; but the wicked shame, and shall be shamed.)

Proverbs 13:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 13:5

A righteous [man] hateth lying
Or, "a word of falsehood" {y}; as being contrary to honour, truth, and conscience. He hates it in himself and others; he hates all sorts of lies, lies in common conversation, religious lies, doctrinal ones, false doctrines, lies spoken in hypocrisy; such as the followers of antichrist spread, being given up unto them that they might be damned, ( 1 Timothy 4:2 ) ( 2 Thessalonians 2:11 2 Thessalonians 2:12 ) ; these are an abomination to God and all good men, ( Revelation 21:27 ) ; but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame;
or, "causes" or "spreads a stink" ^F26: all wicked men are loathsome and abominable, being very corrupt in principle and practice; all over defiled with sin, and covered with wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet; and especially liars, who are often brought to shame and confusion in this life, and will hereafter come to everlasting shame and contempt. Or, "makes himself to stink" ^F1; in the nostrils of all good men, and so brought to shame: or "digs"; a metaphor, as Cartwright thinks, from those that dig in the earth, where such as are covered with shame would gladly put their heads.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (rqv rbd) "verbum falsitatis", Montanus, Michaelis; "verbum fuci", Schulteus.
F26 (vyaby) "foetere facit", Vatablus, Mercerus; "foetere faciet", Montanus; "foetere fecit foetorem", Gussetius, p. 114. "foetorem spargit", Schultens.
F1 "Se ipse foetere facit", Coccei Lexic. col. 77. "foetidum se reddit", Piscator.

Proverbs 13:5 In-Context

3 He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soul; but he that is unwary to speak, shall feel evils. (He who guardeth his mouth, keepeth his soul safe; but he who is careless when he speaketh, shall experience evil.)

4 A slow man will, and will not; but the soul of them that work shall be made fat. (A lazy person desireth, and desireth not; but those who do work shall prosper.)

5 A just man shall loathe a false word; but a wicked man shameth, and shall be shamed. (The righteous loathe a lie; but the wicked shame, and shall be shamed.)

6 Rightfulness keepeth (safe) the way of an innocent man; but wickedness deceiveth a sinner.

7 A man is as rich, when he hath nothing; and a man is as poor, when he is in many riches. (A person can be rich, even when he hath nothing; and a person can be poor, even when he hath many riches.)