Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 27

Verse 1

Pro 27:1

Proverbs 27:1

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

This is another proverb that receives emphasis in the New Testament (James 4:13 ff). See our comment there.

Proverbs 27:1. James 4:13-16 is an elaboration upon this verse: “Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.” The rich fool in the parable was boasting himself of “tomorrow” (“The ground of certain rich men brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry” Luke 12:16-19) when actually he had no “tomorrow” (“God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee”—Luke 12:20). “Pulpit Commentary:” “He boasts himself of tomorrow who counts upon it presumptuously, settles that he will do this or that, as if his life were in his own power, and he could make sure of time. This is blindness and arrogance.”

Verse 2

Pro 27:2

Proverbs 27:2

"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips."

A brief translation is: "Never praise yourself; let other people do it"! It would be difficult to compress more wisdom into fewer words.

Proverbs 27:2. An old German proverb: “Self-brag stinks.” How much better it sounded for the elders of the Jews, when entreating Jesus to come heal the centurion’s servant to say, “He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him” (Luke 7:4), than for the man himself to have said, “I am worthy that thou shouldest do this for me.” There is that element of society that seems to think, “If I don’t toot my own horn, it won’t get tooted.” We reply in the words of “Clarke” (“Self praise is no commendation”). Jesus recognized the general truthfulness of this statement when He said, “If I bear witness of myself, (that is, if I am the only one saying good things about myself), my witness is not true” (John 5:32). Remember, too, that Proverbs 25:27 frowned upon men’s searching out their own glory.

Verse 3

Pro 27:3

Proverbs 27:3

"A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool’s vexation is heavier than them both."

The fools vexation here does not refer to his discomfiture but to that which he causes. "Stone is a burden and sand a dead weight, but to be vexed by a fool is more burdensome than either.”

Proverbs 27:3. Work with stone or sand very long, and your hands, your legs and your back (in fact, your whole body) soon become weary and exhausted, But to be around a fool when vexed is even more wearying and exhausting. “Pulpit Commentary:” “The ill temper and anger of a headstrong fool, which he vents on those about him, are harder to endure than any material weight is to carry.” Job 6:3 speaks of his grief and trials being heavier to bear than the sand of the sea. And Jewish literature contains this statement: “Sand and salt and a mass of iron are easier to bear than a man without understanding.”

Verse 4

Pro 27:4

Proverbs 27:4

"Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?"

The thought here is that, of all hostility, jealousy is the worst. Proverbs 6:34 emphasizes the same truth. See our comment there.

Proverbs 27:4. Wrath and anger may arise and subside, but not so with jealousy. “Pulpit Commentary:” “These may be violent for a time, yet they will subside when they have spent themselves.” It was such non-dying jealousy that caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him: “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt” (Acts 7:9). One who commits adultery with another man’s wife will probably encounter the never-dying jealousy of her husband mentioned in Proverbs 6:35; Proverbs 6:35 : “Jealousy is the rage of man; And he will not spare...He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.”

Verse 5

Pro 27:5

Proverbs 27:5

"Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden."

The love that is here made inferior to open rebuke is that, which in the presence of a situation that requires rebuke, "Manifests itself by no rebuking word, and is therefore morally useless.” A slight change in the text would give, "a love that conceals," "That does not tell the friend his faults.” Toy suggested that emendation. James Moffatt rendered it thus: "Better a frank word of reproof than a love that will not speak.”

Proverbs 27:5. Christ said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19). Proverbs 13:24 says, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son” (no matter how much pretension of love he may claim); “But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” It is in such a consideration that our verse exalts the love that rebukes over the love that does not. Thus gospel preachers and godly people who rebuke people for their sins really and truly love people more (and what they do is “better”) than their pretended friends who say nothing about their sins and let them die and be lost.

Verse 6

Pro 27:6

Proverbs 27:6

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse."

"Wounds from a friend are honest, but an enemy’s kisses are false.”

Proverbs 27:6. Therefore, this verse exalts the same love that administers correction over the deceitful kisses of an enemy. Judas’s kiss didn’t fool Jesus, but people have been fooled by the “nice” treatment of people who really didn’t love them like the person who corrected them. Time will sometimes open people’s eyes as to who were their true friends: “He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue” (Proverbs 28:23). Notice the triple contrast in this verse: “faithful” vs. “deceitful”; “wounds” vs. “kisses”; and “friend” vs. “enemy”.

Verse 7

Pro 27:7

Proverbs 27:7

"The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet."

Cook pointed out that the teaching here is using a physical fact regarding bodily hunger as a metaphor of the higher truth that, "Indulgence of pleasure of any kind brings on satiety and weariness, but that self-restraint multiples the enjoyment.”

Proverbs 27:7. Benjamin Franklin: “A hungry man never saw poor bread.” People who complain about food would probably not do so if really hungry. When one is really hungry, just plain bread or dry crackers taste good, but after one has eaten a big meal at a family get-together, just to mention eating will fulfill the fact of this verse: “The full soul loatheth a honeycomb.” In a sense this is why some are not hungry for the gospel: they feel no need, so they have no desire.

Verse 8

Pro 27:8

Proverbs 27:8

"As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place."

This speaks of the inherent, instinctive desire for men to remain at home. In our current culture, finding a new home is not nearly as difficult as it was in ancient times; but in those earlier periods, changing one’s residence was fraught with all kinds of dangers and hardships. When God pronounced his judgment against Cain for the murder of Abel, Cain complained that, "My punishment is greater than I can bear ... I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth." (Genesis 4:12 f). "Like a bird that strays from its nest is the man who strays from home.”

Proverbs 27:8. Though we do not think of it as normal, there are birds who abandon their nest, their natural surroundings, and go elsewhere with sad results. In like manner do some men become wanderers and prodigals (like the Prodigal Son in the parable, Luke 15). Time has proven that strength of character is more often developed in a family and in children if they settle down to one community and make it their home than to move about from place to place. This general observation reflected itself in our forefather’s maxim: “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”

Verse 9

Pro 27:9

Proverbs 27:9

"Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel."

The first line here describes a physical pleasure which is presumably the illustration of a spiritual joy to be related in the second line; but the Hebrew text of the O.T. for the second line is unintelligible.” The rendition in our versions is as good as any, but there are others. "But the soul is torn by trouble.” "The soul is broken by calamities.” "But trouble shatters your peace of mind.” These several renditions of the second line here are obviously all influenced by the LXX.

Proverbs 27:9. They anointed their faces with olive oil and put on perfume to make themselves happy and light-hearted and carefree. Psalms 104:15 refers to this practice. What is sweeter and more burden-lifting than the good advice and counsel of a trusted friend? How much better one feels who has been burdened!

Verse 10

Pro 27:10

Proverbs 27:10

"Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother that is far off."

Two other proverbs are concerned with the admonition we have here. They are Proverbs 17:17 and Proverbs 18:24. Also Proverbs 19:7 explains how it is that brothers may hate each other. See our comments on those proverbs. What is related here is a sad fact that brothers (or sisters) may sometimes be quite unwilling to aid each other in times of misfortune or distress. Cook revised the proverb here as follows: "Better is the neighbor who is really `near’ in heart and spirit than a brother who is `near’ by blood but ’far off in brotherly feeling.”

Proverbs 27:10. This verse contains three lines instead of the customary two. This is a great verse on friendship, even stating that we should value the long-time friendships of our family as well as those of friends we have personally made. On the puzzling statement about not going into your brother’s house in time of trouble, “Pulpit Commentary” observes: “The mere blood-relationship, which is the result of circumstances over which one has had no control, is inferior to the affectionate connection which arises from moral considerations and is the effect of deliberate choice. We must remember, too, that the practice of polygamy, with the separate establishments of the various wives, greatly weakened the tie of brotherhood. There was little love between David’s sons; and Jonathan was far dearer to David himself than any of his numerous brothers were.”

Verse 11

Pro 27:11

Proverbs 27:11

"My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me."

The speaker is the youth’s father, his teacher, or some friend. The reproach (2nd line) probably refers to some real or contemplated misdemeanor by the youth. "The speaker is concerned for the youth’s career, and desires that he may so conduct himself as to furnish a triumphant answer to all assailants.”

Proverbs 27:11. Saying “My son,” and then urging him to listen to what the father was about to say was common in the first part of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:8-10; Proverbs 2:1, Proverbs 3:1-2; Proverbs 4:1-2; Proverbs 5:1-2; Proverbs 6:1-2; Proverbs 7:1-3), but in this verse is the only time it appears in this latter part of the book, Good children are one of a man’s best recommendations. A wise son not only makes a glad father (Proverbs 10:1), but fathers with good children “shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalms 127:5). Many leaders, even in religion, have been put to shame by the bad behavior and reputation of their sons.

Verses 12-13

Pro 27:12-13

Proverbs 27:12-13

"A prudent man seeth evil and hideth himself; But the simple pass on and suffer for it. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman."

Proverbs 27:12 is the equivalent of Proverbs 22:3, and Proverbs 27:13 is the same as Proverbs 20:16. See comments there.

Proverbs 27:12. This saying is also given in Proverbs 22:3, A prudent man is a man who has his eyes open and sees (in this verse he foresees the evil coming), and he acts in wisdom (he hides himself from the evil rather than walking right into it). But the simple man doesn’t see the evil, doesn’t pay any attention to it, and he suffers for it. Picture evil as a trap that is set; there is as much difference between men who can and cannot be caught in the trap of evil as there is between animals. Mink, foxes and a few other animals are difficult to get into a trap—it can be sometimes done by shrewd and careful means. But no ingenuity is required for getting a possum or a skunk into a trap—just put the trap in the mouth of his den and he will step on it as thoughtlessly as he would on a stick. The truth of this verse is seen in people in regard to their physical, moral, spiritual and financial life.

Proverbs 27:13. This verse is very similar to Proverbs 20:16. If one has become surety for a stranger or for a foreign woman, the creditor should and will hold his garment in pledge just as he would the stranger’s or the foreign woman’s. Exodus 22:26 shows that they took one’s garment as security when loaning money.

Verse 14

Pro 27:14

Proverbs 27:14

"He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him."

Some uncertainty as to the exact meaning of this gives us alternative interpretations. (1) It is a rebuke of loud-mouth adulation, to which the public will ascribe evil intent on the part of the flatterer. (2) A loud-mouth blessing will call down the wrath of God, who shall consider it a curse. (Alternate interpretations by Toy). Our own view of the passage is that any inconsiderate, loud-mouthed communication from a neighbor before daylight in the morning would be viewed by the recipient as rude and inappropriate, even if the words were flattering.

Proverbs 27:14. Haven’t you seen this character who talks louder than is appropriate seemingly with the idea of drawing non-related parties’ attention to what he is saying or doing? And, oh, as he talks, how he casts his eyes here and there to get other people to listen to what he is saying! Very similar to the hypocrite of Matthew 6:2 sounding a trumpet among people just before giving alms to a poor person. Jesus said not to do it (Matthew 6:1-2). and if one dies, whatever praise he might get from men will be the only reward he will get (Matthew 6:2). To rise “early” to bless a friend was as much a part of the put-on righteousness as the blessing with a “loud voice”.

Verses 15-16

Pro 27:15-16

Proverbs 27:15-16

"A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike: He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil."

The last line here is not clear; but some of the translations change it: "As well try to pick up oil in one’s fingers.” "It is like trying to grab oil with your hand.” "To restrain her ... is to grasp oil in one’s right hand.” One translator did the whole 16th verse over: "The north wind is a harsh wind, but it has an auspicious name.” James Moffatt evidently followed the Septuagint here. It reads: "The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.” On Proverbs 27:16, the KJV has this: "Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.” We hope we will be forgiven for the observation that, "The translators have evidently done a lot of guessing here"!

Proverbs 27:15. “The ill-constructed roofs of Eastern houses were very subject to leakage, being flat and formed of porous material” (“Pulpit Commentary”). But even our own type of roof can spring a leak and “drip! drip! drip!” as long as there is water to drip. Such is unwelcome and wearying, and so are the contentions of a contentious woman. It is a poor way to treat a husband or anyone else. Proverbs 19:13 says, “The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.”

Proverbs 27:16. There was an old adage that said there are three things which cannot be hidden but always betray themselves: a woman, the wind, and ointment. This verse may have reference to this since it involves those three (all three) and nothing else. One has as much chance of stopping the wind as stopping the mouth of an angry, fretful and unreasonable woman. That’s why most men married to such often say nothing back but keep on reading the paper or working at whatever they are doing. Their thought: “She’ll run down in time” (like the wind). What is meant by the statement about “oil” is not so clear, some thinking it refers to the impossibility of concealing the smell of the ointment one has put on his hand and some that it refers to her slipping through his hand if he tries to do anything to her. “Clarke” confesses: “The Hebrew is very obscure and is variously translated.” But we know whatever the figure, it would be attempting the impossible.

Verse 17

Pro 27:17

Proverbs 27:17

"Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Based upon the truism that a friend would not sharpen the features of another’s face, is the following: "As one iron implement is sharpened by another, so a man sharpens the perception of his companion.” However, would not the joy over the arrival of a friend actually change the appearance of a companion’s face, wreathing it in smiles?

Proverbs 27:17. “The proverb deals with the influence which men have upon one another” (“Pulpit Commentary”). See the harder steel file sharpen the softer steel knife edge, or watch the butcher as he sharpens his cutting knife by the use of polished steel. This is not to say that men do not use stones to sharpen knives, but the fact that they also use iron upon iron shows that things of the same material can also affect one another—just as men can affect men from sadness to gladness. And ability to cheer up a sorrowful human heart becomes a responsibility to do so. Thus, Jesus referred to our visiting the sick and those in prison (Matthew 25:36) and Hebrews 12:12 to our lifting up the hands that hand down.

Verse 18

Pro 27:18

Proverbs 27:18

"Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth the master shall be honored."

Paul evidently had this in mind (2 Timothy 2:6). The comparison here seems to be: "Just as the fig-tree requires constant care, but also yields abundant fruit, so the ministrations of a faithful servant will not be without their due reward.”

Proverbs 27:18. One who carefully tends his fig tree will in time be rewarded for his patient effort, and one who faithfully serves his master will also find that he will be honored for it. Jesus is our Master, and to each who has faithfully served Him here on earth will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Verse 19

Pro 27:19

Proverbs 27:19

"As in water face answereth face, So the heart of man to man."

This is a wonderful axiom indeed. Still water serves as a mirror for one looking into it, reflecting one’s very likeness. The same thing is true in human relationships.

A grouchy, evil-spirited person evokes the same attitude in everyone he confronts; and the same is true of a happy and cheerful person.

Proverbs 27:19. See a man looking at himself in the water. It is almost as if he is talking to himself. Even so as people look at each other, it is almost as if a silent message is being sent between them.

Verse 20

Pro 27:20

Proverbs 27:20

"Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied."

"Sheol and Abaddon ... etc." (Proverbs 27:20). Harris rendered this, "Hell and destruction are insatiable.” Sheol, however, is best understood as a name for "the realm of the dead." It is the equivalent of "Hades." Death itself is never satisfied. We encountered this same pair of names in Proverbs 15:11.

DeHoff applied the second line here to the lusts and appetites of the body. "Gambling is a growing vice. One drink of alcoholic beverage calls for another, and another, etc. Committing adultery, `just this one time’ never works out that way.”

Proverbs 27:20. “Sheol” is the Hebrew word for the place of departed spirits (the same as “Hades” in Greek). “Abaddon” is the Hebrew word for destruction (the same as “Apollyon” in Greek;. Both forms of the latter are found in Revelation 9:11. “Sheol and Abaddon” are used together also in Job 26:6 and Proverbs 15:11. Just as death is personified here as never satisfied but always wanting more souls, so man’s eyes are never satisfied. The more he has and sees, the more he wants. This fact is also mentioned in Ecclesiastes 1:8. Hebrews 2:5 uses this same language in describing the greediness of the Chaldeans.

Verse 21

Pro 27:21

Proverbs 27:21

"The refining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is tried by his praise."

This verse is very similar to Proverbs 17:3, with this difference: there Jehovah is the tester of men, and here it is the public, or the community. Toy rendered the passage, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man is to be estimated according to his reputation.”

Proverbs 27:21. “As silver and gold are tried by the art of the refiner, so is a man’s heart by the praise he receives. If he feel it not, he deserves it; if he be puffed up by it, he is worthless” (“Clarke”). “Pulpit Commentary”: “As the processes of metallurgy test the precious metals, so a man’s public reputation shows what he is really worth...As the crucible brings all impurities to the surface, so public opinion drags for all that is bad in a man, and he who stands this test is generally esteemed.”

Verse 22

Pro 27:22

Proverbs 27:22

"Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him."

"This is a picturesque and forcible way of saying that a fool’s folly is his nature.”

Proverbs 27:22. “Bray...mortar...pestle”—these are strange words to our modern way of living. Whenever you put something into a container and pound or mash it with something in your hand, you are “braying” it, what you are braying it with is the “pestle”, and the container is the “mortar”. When our mothers used to mash potatoes by hand, that was the same figure, only we didn’t use those words to apply to the action and the various pieces. This verse shows that no matter how you might beat on a confirmed fool, you cannot get rid of his foolishness. Consider the drunkard in Proverbs 23:35 and Judah in Isaiah 1:5 and Jeremiah 5:3.

Verses 23-27

Pro 27:23-27

Proverbs 27:23-27

SHORT TREATISE ON ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds:

For riches are not forever; And doth the crown endure unto all generations?

The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field;

And there will be goats’ milk enough for thy food, the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens."

The purpose of this passage is to emphasize and glorify the type of lifestyle that prevailed in early Israelite history. The wealth of Job, it will be remembered, was in the numbers of his flocks, herds and domesticated animals. In later Jewish history, vineyards, olive yards, and orchards were stressed; but in the patriarchal period, animal husbandry was the source of Israel’s livelihood and of their wealth.

"The hay is carried" (Proverbs 27:25). This means it was carried to the barn.

Agriculture is still the means by which mankind is able to live. "The king is fed from the field."

Kidner called this passage "A Pastoral Symphony"; and his words supply an appropriate close for this chapter:

"This scene is not designed to make farmers of everybody, but to show the interplay between man’s labor and the nurture of God, which a sophisticated society neglects at its mortal peril. It recalls the reader from the scramble for money and position (Proverbs 27:24) to the satisfaction of doing a worthwhile job well (Proverbs 27:23), and to a recognition of the rhythm (Proverbs 27:25) and sufficiency (Proverbs 27:26-27) of God’s care.”

Illustration: The Ukraine was once the granary of the continent of Europe; but when its efficient farmers rebelled against the stupid regulations of the Communist overlords, Stalin murdered millions of them; and the Communists were never afterward able to feed themselves, which necessitated their annual purchase of 200,000,000 metric tons of wheat from the United States. This destroyed Communism.

Proverbs 27:23. From here to the end of the chapter the material has to do with shepherding and agriculture except for the illustration in Proverbs 27:24 that explains this present verse. This verse presents Hebrew parallelism in which the second statement is a restatement of the first. Whatever a person’s business, he must “tend to business”, or he will have no business to tend. The shepherd was ever counting his sheep to be sure they were all with the flock. If any was sick, he immediately cared for it.

Proverbs 27:24. Just as riches or the crown could not be taken for granted, neither could one’s flock and herd. Today’s ten wealthiest men in the world may not all be wealthy in a few years. Those who rule today may be overthrown tomorrow. So care and diligence must be watchwords even of a shepherd.

Proverbs 27:25. One can see the diligence of the shepherd in providing food for his flock at the different seasons.

Proverbs 27:26. This diligence pays off, for there is wool for the clothing, and from the sale of goats could the land be purchased for oneself.

Proverbs 27:27. Additional reward for diligence: plenty of milk. They milked the goat whereas we milk the cow. On goats’ milk “Geikie” says, “In most parts of Palestine goats’ milk in every form makes, with eggs and bread, the main food of the people.

Proverbs of Solomon - Proverbs 27:1-27

Open It

1. Why is it helpful to have good friends?

2. What do you think is the most powerful emotion? Why?

3. Of what do you like to take good care? Why?

Explore It

4. Why shouldn’t we boast about tomorrow? (Proverbs 27:1)

5. What is more powerful than anger and fury? (Proverbs 27:4)

6. What is better than hidden love? (Proverbs 27:5)

7. How are friends and enemies different? (Proverbs 27:6)

8. What does Solomon’s statement about hunger illustrate about gratitude? (Proverbs 27:7)

9. From what does the pleasantness of one’s friend spring? (Proverbs 27:9)

10. In what way should we be loyal? (Proverbs 27:10)

11. How do the prudent and the simple respond differently to danger? (Proverbs 27:12)

12. What effect do people have on one another? (Proverbs 27:17)

13. What does a person’s heart reflect? (Proverbs 27:19)

14. By what is a person tested? (Proverbs 27:21)

15. What limit is there in removing folly from a fool? (Proverbs 27:22)

16. Why did Solomon counsel us to give careful attention to our finances? (Proverbs 27:24)

Get It

17. About what sorts of things do people boast?

18. Why is jealousy such a powerful emotion?

19. About what do you get jealous?

20. When has a friend’s earnest counsel been helpful to you?

21. How can friends "sharpen" one another?

22. How do you generally respond when someone gives you a compliment?

23. How should the fact that riches are transitory affect our life-style?

Apply It

24. What friend will you encourage with kind words or helpful counsel today?

25. In what specific way can you arrange your life-style to reflect the fact that money and things are transitory?