Proverbs 16:28

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. A FROWARD MAN SOWETH (HEBREW, SENDETH IN) STRIFE; AND A WHISPERER SEPARATETH CHIEF FRIENDS. The Hebrew for "chief friends" [ 'aluwp (H441)] means a prince, a husband, a leading one among the most trusted intimate friends. A whisperer, if listened to, separates between people and prince, between husband and wife, between friend and friend....

The four verses speak of the same thing, and the well-known opprobrious name, the “man of Belial,” stands at the head as stigmatizing the man who delights in causing the mischief of which they treat. DIGGETH UP EVIL - i. e., Digs an evil pit for others to fall into. Compare Psalms 7:15. Proverbs 16:30 The physiognomy of the man of Belial, the half-closed eyes that never look you straight in the face, the restlessness or cunning of which biting the lips is the surest indication. Compare Proverbs 6:13....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 16:1 These are specially religions maxims, and they all contain the name Jehovah. PROVERBS 16:1 The Authorized Version makes one sentence of this verse without any contrast or antithesis. This is plainly wrong, there being intended a contrast between the thought of the heart and the well ordered speech. It is better translated, _The plans of the heart are man_'_s_:_ but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. _Men make plans, arrange speeches, muster arguments, in the mind; but to put these into proper, persuasive words is a gift of God. "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). In the case of

A FROWARD MAN SOWETH STRIFE,.... Or "a man of perversenesses" q; in whose heart is frowardness and perverseness; and whose mouth speaketh froward and perverse things, contrary to reason, law, and Gospel; and who has a spirit of contradiction, and is contrary to all men in his principles and practices; such a man sows discord and strife wherever he comes, in families, in neighbourhoods, in churches, in commonwealths, in civil and religious societies; and he seldom fails of finding a soil fit for his purpose, or ground susceptive of the seed he sows, where it takes root and thrives; see Proverbs 6:19; AND A WHISPERER SEPARATETH CHIEF FRIENDS; one that goes from place to place, from house to house, carrying tales, whispering into the ears of persons things prejudicial to the characters of others, mere lies and falsehoods; such a man by his conduct separates one friend from

CHAPTER 16 IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD The name Jehovah (LORD) appears eleven times in this chapter of Proverbs. The Lord has the final word, for to man belong the preparations (or plans) of the heart; but from the LORD is the answer of the tongue. It is the same thought as in our English proverb--“Man proposes--God disposes.” Man loves to justify himself, his ways are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits; He is the judge of ways and motives. Our works are to be committed (literal: rolled upon) unto the LORD, then establishment and blessing will follow. It is strange that these three verses were omitted in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament. The LORD hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil Proverbs 16:4. Much error has been taught in connection with this verse. Some have taught that God made some wicked. It is not said

PROVERBS 16. The special feature is a group of aphorisms (Proverbs 16:10) relating to kings. The sentiments seem rather to reflect the picture of the ideal king than to indicate any particular period. The metaphors employed and the character depicted suggest a parallel with the ideal king of Psalms 72. PROVERBS 16:4. The lit. rendering of Proverbs 16:4 a is Yahweh has made every work for its answer_ i.e._ the nexus of cause and effect seen in the moral government of the world is His work, a kind of prearranged harmony. The supreme instance is the case of the wicked, their answer is the day of evil. We have an assertion of the righteousness of Yahweh's government rather than of their predestinati

SOWETH. sendeth forth. Illustrations: Princes of Ammon (2 Samuel 10:3); Ziba (2 Samuel 16:3); Chaldeans (Daniel 3:8); Herodias (Mark 6:19)....

_soweth_ Rather, SCATTERETH ABROAD, R.V. διαπέμπεται κακὰ, LXX. Comp. Proverbs 6:14. _separateth chief friends_ "Or, _alienateih his friend_," R.V. marg. See Proverbs 19:7....

TEXT Proverbs 16:23-33 23. The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips. 24. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death. 26. The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto. 27. A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire. 28. A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends. 29. A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good. 30. He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

16:28 false (e-2) Or 'froward,' as ch. 2.12. soweth (f-4) Or 'sendeth out.' talebearer (g-8) Or 'slanderer.'...