Proverbs 26:23 - Similitudes and Instructions

Audio Bible

Context

Similitudes and Instructions
…22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. 23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. 24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.…

Cross References

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.Psalm 55:21
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.Matthew 15:8
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.James 3:10-12
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! / Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? / My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.Psalm 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.1 Peter 2:1
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.Psalm 12:2-3
They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. / May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!Jeremiah 12:2
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Proverbs 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

2 Samuel 20:9,10
And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him…

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

Jump to Previous

Jump to Next

Proverbs 26

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel
This phrase uses the imagery of pottery, a common craft in ancient Israel. Earthen vessels were everyday items, often used for storage and cooking. The glaze, a thin layer applied to pottery, would make the vessel appear more attractive and sometimes waterproof. However, the glaze could hide imperfections or weaknesses in the clay. This metaphor suggests a superficial beauty or integrity that conceals underlying flaws. In biblical context, this can be compared to Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27, where He calls them "whitewashed tombs," beautiful on the outside but full of decay within. The imagery emphasizes the danger of external appearances that mask internal corruption.

are burning lips
"Burning lips" refers to speech that is fervent, passionate, or persuasive, yet potentially harmful. In the cultural context of the Bible, speech was a powerful tool, capable of both blessing and cursing. Proverbs frequently warns against deceitful and harmful speech (Proverbs 10:18, 12:22). The "burning" aspect suggests intensity, which can be alluring but also destructive, much like fire. This aligns with James 3:6, where the tongue is described as a fire, capable of setting the course of life ablaze. The warning here is against being swayed by eloquent but deceitful words.

and a wicked heart
The heart, in biblical terms, represents the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will. A "wicked heart" indicates a deep-seated moral corruption. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, highlighting humanity's fallen nature. The connection between speech and heart is significant; Jesus teaches in Luke 6:45 that "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Thus, burning lips are a reflection of the wickedness within. This phrase serves as a caution to discern the true nature of individuals, recognizing that outward expressions often reveal inner realities.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Solomon
- Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom.

2. Ancient Israel
- The cultural and historical context in which the Proverbs were written, reflecting the values and teachings of the time.

3. Earthen Vessel
- A common household item in ancient times, made of clay, symbolizing something ordinary and fragile.

4. Glaze
- A coating applied to pottery to make it appear more attractive, symbolizing superficial beauty or deception.

5. Burning Lips and Wicked Heart
- Metaphors for deceitful speech and malicious intent, highlighting the contrast between appearance and reality.

Teaching Points

The Danger of Deception
Just as a glaze can make a simple pot appear valuable, deceitful words can mask a wicked heart. We must be discerning and not be swayed by appearances alone.

The Importance of Integrity
True integrity involves aligning our words with our heart. We should strive for consistency between our internal values and external expressions.

Guarding Our Speech
Our words have the power to build up or destroy. We must be mindful of our speech, ensuring it reflects a heart aligned with God's truth.

Evaluating True Worth
Like an earthen vessel, our true value is not in outward appearances but in the purity and intentions of our heart. We should seek to cultivate inner beauty.

Seeking God's Wisdom
In a world full of deception, we need God's wisdom to discern truth from falsehood. Regular prayer and study of Scripture can guide us in this pursuit.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 26What does 'dross' mean in the Bible?What is the Bible's view on flattery?What does "dross" mean in the Bible?What is the Bible's stance on alcohol consumption?

(23) Burning lips--i.e., burning with love, while there is an evil heart within.

A potsherd covered with silver dross.--Pottery glazed with dross of silver, a well-known method of ornamentation. For similar proverbs, comp. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:39.

Verse 23. - The next proverbs are concerned with hypocrisy. The Hebrew denotes the comparison simply by position (see on Proverbs 25:11), thus: An earthen vessel (or, potsherd) overlaid with silver dross - growing lips and a wicked heart. So called "silver dross" is litharge, an oxide of lead used to this day to put a glaze on pottery (comp. Ecclus. 38:30). The comparatively worthless article is thus made to assume a fine appearance. Thus lips that seem to burn with affection, and give the kiss of glowing, love, may mask a heart filled with envy and hatred Judas kisses and words of friendship hide the bad feelings that lurk within. Septuagint, "Silver given with guile is to be considered as a potsherd; smooth (λεῖα) lips hide a grievous heart" (comp. Matthew 23:27). Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Like glaze
כֶּ֣סֶף (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

covering
מְצֻפֶּ֣ה (mə·ṣup·peh)
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6823: To lay out, lay over

an earthen vessel
חָ֑רֶשׂ (ḥā·reś)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2789: Earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd

are burning
דֹּלְקִ֣ים (dō·lə·qîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1814: To burn, hotly pursue

lips
שְׂפָתַ֖יִם (śə·p̄ā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

and a wicked
רָֽע׃ (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

heart.
וְלֶב־ (wə·leḇ-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

Links

Proverbs 26:23 NIV
Proverbs 26:23 NLT
Proverbs 26:23 ESV
Proverbs 26:23 NASB
Proverbs 26:23 KJVProverbs 26:23 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 26:23 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 26:23 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 26:23 French Bible
Proverbs 26:23 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Proverbs 26:23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel (Prov. Pro Pr)