Verse 12
12. Stirreth up Rather, uncovers strifes, quarrels. The root of the verb has several meanings; one is, to make bare, uncover. This may have some reference to תכסה , ( tekhasseh,) covers, in the second clause: but love ( tekhasseh) covers over all transgression; that is, forgives them. Comp. Proverbs 17:9; Jas 5:20 ; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:0. Tekhasseh (in the preceding verse also rendered “covereth”) is here accompanied with על , ‘hal, over, which more distinctly gives it the sense named. The idea may be, that a hateful, unamiable man uncovers (makes bare, and keeps before his mind’s eye, remembers in an unforgiving spirit) the strifes or quarrels, and their causes, in which he is interested; while a loving, well disposed man covers up, forgives, and forgets transgressions against himself. The common understanding, that of concealing the faults or sins of friends, is also a good sense. It is not impossible that both meanings may be intended. These artistically arranged sentences often partake of the enigmatical.
There is something in them to exercise the mind, to think about, to guess out.
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