Proverbs 25:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 25:19

1. The confidence of an unfaithful man (so some read it) will be like a broken tooth; his policy, his power, his interest, all that which he trusted in to support him in his wickedness, will fail him in time of trouble, Ps. 52:7. 2. Confidence in an unfaithful man (so we read it), in a man whom we thought trusty and therefore depended on, but who proves otherwise; it proves not only unserviceable, but painful and vexatious, like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint, which, when we put any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 25:19

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble ,.... It is not good to put confidence in any man, not in princes, nor in the best of men; much less in an unfaithful, prevaricating, and treacherous man; and especially in a time of distress and trouble, depending on his help and assistance, which is leaning on a broken reed, and trusting to a broken staff. Or, "the confidence of an unfaithful man in time of trouble" F15 מבטח בוגד "fiducia praevaricatoris", Pagninus, Montanus,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:16-20

Excesses and errors I. WARNING AGAINST SATIETY . ( Proverbs 25:16 , Proverbs 25:17 .) The stories of Samson and of Jonathan may be read in illustration of the saying ( 14:8 , 14:9 ; 1 Samuel 14:26 ). Proverbs 25:27 points the warning against incurring the pain of satiety, "Honey, too, hath satiety," says Pindar— "A surfeit of the sweetest things, The deepest loathing to the stomach brings." 1. We should beware of a too frequent repetition of even innocent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:16-27

The wisdom of moderation We can only eat a small quantity of honey; it we go beyond the limit we find out our mistake. Of this, as of all very sweet things, the words of the great dramatist are true, that "a little more than enough is by much too much." This is particularly applicable to that to which it is here referred. I. SELF - PRAISE . We may go a little way in that direction, but not far. If we transgress the narrow bounds allowed, we shall soon find that we have done... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:19

Hebrew (see on Proverbs 25:11 ), A broken tooth, and a foot out of joint—confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble. A faithless man is as little to be relied on in a time of need as a loose or broken tooth, and a foot unsteady or actually dislocated. You cannot bite on the one, you cannot walk on the other; so the perfidious man fails you when most wanted. Septuagint, "The way [ ὁδὸς , Vatican, is probably a clerical error for ὀδοὺς , al .] of the wicked, and the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 25:19

Proverbs 25:19. Confidence in an unfaithful man, &c. “As a broken tooth, or leg out of joint, not only fails a man when he comes to use them, but likewise puts him into pain; so doth a faithless person serve them that depend upon him, when they have the greatest need of his help; and such also is the confidence that a faithless person himself places in riches, or craft, or great friends, &c, which some time or other will disappoint him to his great grief, when he expects the most... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 25:1-28

25:1-29:27 MORE PROVERBS OF SOLOMONRelations with others (25:1-28)God has no obligation to explain to anyone the reasons for his actions. A king, however, has a duty to his people to investigate the causes of events that affect them, though he need not reveal to them his deepest thoughts (25:1-3). Some advisers to the king may be ungodly or treacherous, and should be removed if the king is to rule righteously (4-5). It is better to wait to be invited to a higher rank than to be boastfully... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 25:19

unfaithful = treacherous. Hebrew. bagad. See note on "transgressors" (Proverbs 11:3 ). foot out of joint = a tottering foot. Illustrations: Micah (Judges 18:20 ); Ben-hadad (2 Kings 8:8-15 . 2 Chronicles 28:20 , 2 Chronicles 28:21 ); Israelites (Isaiah 30:1-5 ); Zedekiah (Jeremiah 37:5-7 ); compare Ezekiel 17:15 ; Ezekiel 29:7 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 25:19

"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint."It would be hard for anyone to imagine two more uncomfortable conditions than those mentioned in line two. The more serious, of course, would be the foot out of joint (`broken' in some translations); because in loss of mobility one would be unable to flee from danger. To paraphrase the proverb it says that, "Trusting an unfaithful man in a crisis is both extremely painful and dangerous." read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 25:19-20

Proverbs 25:19-20. Confidence in an unfaithful man— Houbigant renders this verse, As a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint, is the protection of a wicked man in calamity; he will even take away the garment in cold weather; Proverbs 25:20. As he who sprinkleth nitre with vinegar, is the man who shall sing songs to a person in grief. Vinegar remarkably irritates nitre. See Sir 22:6. The LXX, Syr. Chald. Vulg. and Arab. render the 20th verse, As a moth in a garment, or a worm in wood; so is... read more

Group of Brands