Proverbs 26:24 — Word Study
WLCבִּ֭שְׂפָתָיו יִנָּכֵ֣ר שׂוֹנֵ֑א וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ יָשִׁ֥ית מִרְמָֽה׃
BSAA hateful mansânêʼ [malicious] disguises himselfnâkar▸ [counterfeits, dissembles] with his speechsâphâh [lips, language] but he lays upshîyth▸ [stores, harbors] deceitmirmâh [cheating, trickery] in his heartqereb [inner, secret]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בִּ֭שְׂפָתָיו | with lips his | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| יִנָּכֵ֣ר | he disguises himself | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| שׂוֹנֵ֑א | [one who] hates | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ | and in inner being his | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| יָשִׁ֥ית | he puts | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| מִרְמָֽה׃ | deceit | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. |
| KJV | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; |
| ASV | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: |
| YLT | By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit, |
| WEB | A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart. |
| BBE | With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him; |
The translations agree on the overall meaning of the verse, emphasizing the deceptive nature of the hateful man's speech.
The sentence consists of one main clause and two subordinate phrases, illustrating the contrast between the man's outward appearance and his inner deceit.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectשָׂנֵא
verbנָכַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 26:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Characteristics of the Wickedgenerated
Proverbs 26:24 describes the behavior of a hateful man, who uses his speech to conceal his true nature. This verse is part of a larger discourse in Proverbs that contrasts the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the importance of discernment in recognizing deceitful behavior. The surrounding verses provide additional insight into the nature of wickedness, illustrating how outward appearances can be misleading.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 11:1 | Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. |
| 2 | Proverbs 12:5–17 | The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit. |
| 3 | Proverbs 14:8 | The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׂפָה, bis.fa.tovgenerated
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) refers to 'lips' or 'language' and encompasses meanings related to speech and the edges of objects. It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. In this verse, it highlights how the hateful man uses his speech to disguise his true intentions.
The parsing indicates that this word is in the construct form, showing possession: 'with his lips.' This emphasizes the personal nature of the speech being used to disguise oneself.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the rendering of the verse, consistently conveying the idea that a hateful man disguises himself through his speech while harboring deceit in his heart.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יִנָּכֵ֣ר, he disguises, governs the main clause. The structure includes a prepositional phrase describing how he disguises himself, followed by another clause that states what he lays up in his heart.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the subject, שׂוֹנֵ֑א, the one who hates, making it clear that the focus is on the character of this individual.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word שָׂפָה is translated as ξείλεσιν, which means 'lips' or 'edges.' This shows a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on speech as a means of disguise.
The choice of ἐπινεύει for יִנָּכֵ֣ר suggests a nuance of indicating or signaling, which aligns with the idea of someone trying to mask their true identity.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 26:24 tells us that a hateful man uses his speech to hide his true feelings, while secretly storing deceit in his heart. This verse warns us to be cautious about trusting the words of those who may not have good intentions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that he uses words to hide his true feelings or intentions, presenting a false front to others.
It indicates that the person's true nature and intentions are hidden beneath a facade, which can lead to harmful actions.
By observing their actions and the consistency between their words and behavior, as well as being aware of the context in which they speak.
It highlights that words can be used to manipulate and deceive, making it essential to discern the true meaning behind what is said.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I seen people use words to disguise their true intentions?
- How can I be more discerning when listening to others, especially those who may not have my best interests at heart?
- What are some ways I can ensure my words reflect my true feelings and intentions?
- How does this verse challenge me to be honest in my communication with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of deceit and the importance of integrity in speech.
If one of the brothers who agreed upon a common pact shall suddenly on one occasion only fall into altercation with another, he may, according to the gospel, ask and receive forgiveness.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 26 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 26:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe that hateth dissembleth with his lips,.... He that bears a grudge in his mind, and retains hatred in his heart against any person, hides it all he can, till he has an opportunity of showing it as
Read John Gill on Proverbs 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; He that hateth dissembleth with, [rather, as the Chaldaic and Vulgate, and as the Niphal voice requires, 'is known by,'
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDissembleth, or, carrieth himself like another man; pretends love and kindness; which sense seems to agree best both with the next clause of this verse, and with the two following verses,
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 26:24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;Ver. 24. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips.] And so heaps sin upon sin, till he be transformed into a breathing devil. This is meant not so much of the passion of hatred as of the habit of it; when it hath wholly leavened the heart, and lies watching its opportunity of doing mischief. The devil is at inn with such, as Mr Bradford phraseth it, and was as great a master, long before the Florentine secretary was born, as since. Serm. of Repent.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. and] But he layeth up &c. (R.V.) gives the sense more forcibly. Comp. 2 Samuel 3:27.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 26 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible24. He that… dissembleth — This seems to be the counterpart of the preceding, and is rendered: “By his lips shall the hater be known, that he putteth deceit within him;” that is, that he cherishes it. — Gesenius.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 26 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.
Tyndale line
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
He that hateth, will counterfaite with his lips, but in his heart he layeth vp deceite.
Strictly literal
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
A hater pretends by his lips, || And he places deceit in his heart,
With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
From the Latin
An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth deceit.
Simplified
People say nice things to you even though they hate you; deep down they're just lying to you.
With his lips the hater makes things seem what they are not, but deceit is stored up inside him;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all six words matched in the Hebrew text. This indicates a strong consistency in the translation and understanding of the verse across these texts.
בִּ֭שְׂפָתָיו יִנָּכֵ֣ר שׂוֹנֵ֑א וּ֝בְקִרְבּ֗וֹ יָשִׁ֥ית מִרְמָֽה׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 26:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word נָכַר (nakar) encompasses meanings related to recognition and alienation. It can signify acknowledging, regarding, or understanding someone or something, as well as treating something as foreign or strange. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including recognizing and disguising, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
[נָכַר] vb. (not Qal) regard, recognize
Niph. they are not recognized
Pi. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor
Hiph.
regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition
Recognize (as formerly known)
Be willing to recognize, acknowledge
Be acquianted with
Distinguish, understand
Hithp. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.
base
[נכר] vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue
Niph. with his lips a hater disguiseth himself
Pi. and they have treated this place as foreign
Hithp. he acted as a stranger toward them
base
H5234a נָכַר (not Qal) regard, recognize . they are not recognized
. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor
. . regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition
. Recognize (as formerly known)
. Be willing to recognize, acknowledge
. Be acquianted with
. Distinguish, understand
. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.
H5234b נכר vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue
5234 nakar naw-kar'
a primitive root; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently
at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be
acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion
implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject,
resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant or
disowning):--acknowledge, X could, deliver, discern,
dissemble, estrange, feign self to be another, know, take
knowledge (notice), perceive, regard, (have) respect, behave
(make) self strange(-ly).
נָכַר (na.khar) — to recognize.
1) to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard
1a) (Niphal) to be recognised
1b) (Piel) to regard
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to regard, observe, pay attention to, pay regard to, notice
1c2) to recognise (as formerly known), perceive
1c3) to be willing to recognise or acknowledge, acknowledge with honour
1c4) to be acquainted with
1c5) to distinguish, understand
1d) (Hithpael) to make oneself known
נָכַר (na.khar) — to alienate.
1) to act or treat as foreign or strange, disguise, misconstrue
1a) (Niphal) to disguise oneself
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to treat as foreign (profane)
1b2) to misconstrue
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to act as alien
1c2) to disguise oneself
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
base
H8130 שָׂנֵא hate
8130 sane' saw-nay'
a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)
hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.
1) to hate, be hateful
1a) (Qal) to hate
1a1) of man
1a2) of God
1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)
1b) (Niphal) to be hated
1c) (Piel) hater (participle)
1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom
Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
קֶ֫רֶב (qereb) refers to the inward part or midst of something, encompassing both physical and figurative meanings. It can denote the center of a person or object, as well as the seat of thought and emotion. The term also relates to the entrails of sacrificial animals. It is used in various contexts, including references to being among or within a group.
קֶ֫רֶב 227 n.[m.] inward part, midst
base
H7130 קֶ֫רֶב inward part, midst
7130 qereb keh'-reb
from 7126; properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center,
whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with
preposition):--X among, X before, bowels, X unto charge, +
eat (up), X heart, X him, X in, inward (X -ly, part, -s,
thought), midst, + out of, purtenance, X therein, X through, X
within self.
see HEBREW for 07126
קֶ֫רֶב (qe.rev) — entrails: among.
: among/within
1) midst, among, inner part, middle
1a) inward part
1a1) physical sense
1a2) as seat of thought and emotion
1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion
1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons)
1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals)
Also means: qe.rev (קֶ֫רֶב ": inner_parts" H7130H)
קֶ֫רֶב (qe.rev) — entrails: inner parts.
: inner_parts
1) midst, among, inner part, middle
1a) inward part
1a1) physical sense
1a2) as seat of thought and emotion
1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion
1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons)
1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals)
Conj | Prep | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word שִׁית (shiyth) is a primitive root meaning to put or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, laying, and constituting. It can also imply taking a stand or being imposed upon. The entries consistently emphasize its versatility in contexts of action and intention.
שִׁית vb. put, set
Qal
put, lay
set, station
set one's mind to, give heed, attention
set, fix
constitute, make one something
internally trans., = take one's stand
Hoph. if a ransom be imposed
base
H7896 שִׁית put, set .. put, lay
. . set, station
. set one's mind to, give heed, attention
. set, fix
. constitute, make one something
. internally trans., = take one's stand
. if a ransom be imposed
7896 shiyth sheeth
a primitive root; to place (in a very wide
application):--apply, appoint, array, bring, consider, lay
(up), let alone, X look, make, mark, put (on), + regard, set,
shew, be stayed, X take.
שִׁית (shit) — to set: make.
: make/establish
1) to put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)
1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to
1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform
1a4) to take one's stand
1a5) to lay waste
1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon
שִׁית (shit) — to set: put.
: put/bring
1) to put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)
1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to
1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform
1a4) to take one's stand
1a5) to lay waste
1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon
שִׁית (shit) — to set: appoint.
: appoint
1) to put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, lay (hand upon)
1a2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to
1a3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform
1a4) to take one's stand
1a5) to lay waste
1b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon
שִׁית (shit) — to set: accuse.
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
מִרְמָה (mirmah) refers to deceit or treachery. It is derived from the root word meaning to deceive and encompasses concepts like fraud, guile, and craftiness. The term appears in contexts that highlight dishonesty and trickery.
מִרְמָה n.f. deceit, treachery
base
H4820 מִרְמָה deceit, treachery
4820 mirmah meer-maw'
from 7411 in the sense of deceiving; fraud:--craft,
deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly,
treachery.
see HEBREW for 07411
מִרְמָה (mir.mah) — deceit.
deceit, treachery
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
de-set' (mirmah; (dolos)): The intentional misleading or beguiling of another; in Scripture represented as a companion of many other forms of wickedness, as cursing (Ps 10:7), hatred (Pr 26:24), theft, covetousness, adultery, murder (Mr 7:22; Ro 1:29). The Revised Version (British and American) introduces the word in Pr 14:25; 2Th 2:10; but in such passages as Ps 55:11; Pr 20:17; 26:26; 1Th 2:3, renders a…