Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 14:25
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
25. delivereth souls ] by clearing them from false accusation and establishing their innocence.
a deceitful witness speaketh lies ] Rather: he that uttereth (lit. breatheth) lies ( causes, or is) deceit, R.V.; is a cheat, Lange. He who, in contrast to the “faithful witness,” gives false evidence obscures the truth and (it is implied) destroys, instead of “delivering” souls.
The rendering of A.V. has the support both of LXX., (sc. ); and of Vulg. profert mendacia versipellis.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the second clause, destroyeth life might have been expected as the antithesis to delivereth souls. But what worse could be said? A deceitful witness speaketh lies. All destruction is implied in falsehood.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Delivereth souls, i.e. persons, to wit, such as are innocent, from the mischief of false accusations, by declaring the truth, which is sufficient for their vindication. Speaketh lies, to the injury and destruction of the innocent; which is easily understood out of the former clause, and from the practice of false witnesses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. Life often depends ontruth-telling.
a deceitful . . . liesHethat breathes out lies is deceit, not to be trusted (Pr14:5).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A true witness delivereth souls,…. Or, “a witness of truth” x: one that witnesses truth upon oath in a court of judicature, he “delivers souls”; men, not one man only, but many; a whole family, or more, in danger of being ruined; he delivers them, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions add, “from evils”; from evil charges and accusations brought against them; from the oppression of their enemies, from the loss of their good name, and from ruin and destruction, that otherwise would have come upon them; he delivers their “lives” y, as it may be rendered, in danger of being lost by false accusations: so a witness of the truth of Christ, or a faithful minister of the Gospel, not only saves himself, but them that hear him; and is an instrument of delivering the souls of men from error and damnation;
but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies; boldly, openly, by wholesale; he blows them out z, to the ruin of the good names and characters, and to the destruction of the lives, of the innocent; and so a false teacher, one that lies in wait to deceive, speaks lies in hypocrisy, doctrinal lies, to the ruin of the souls of men. The Targum is,
“he that speaketh lies is deceitful;”
he is “deceit” a itself, as in the Hebrew text. Such is the man of sin, and such are his emissaries.
x “testis veritatis”, Montanus, Cocceius, Schultens. y “vitas; animam pro vita usurpari notum”, Gejerus. z “efflat”, Tigurine version, Piscator, Gejerus; “spirat”, Schultens; “efflabit”, Monatnus. a “dolus”, Montanus, Vatablus; “fraus”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25 A witness of truth delivereth souls;
But he who breathes out lies is nothing but deception.
When men, in consequence of false suspicions or of false accusations, fall into danger of their lives ( is the designation in the later language of the law of a criminal process), then a tongue which, pressed by conscientiousness and not deterred by cowardice, will utter the truth, saves them. But a false tongue, which as such ( vid., Pro 14:5) is a (after the Masora at this place , defective), i.e., is one who breathes out lies ( vid., regarding at Pro 6:19), is mere deception (lxx, without reading [as Hitzig does]: ). In Pro 12:17 is to be interpreted as the object. accus. of carried forward, but here to carry forward (Arama, Lwenstein) is impracticable – for to deliver deceit = the deceiver is not expressed in the Hebr. – is, as possibly also Heb 12:16 (lxx ), without or being supplied, the pred. of the substantival clause: such an one is deception (in bad Latin, dolositas ), for he who utters forth lies against better knowledge must have a malevolent, deceitful purpose.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
See here, 1. How much praise is due to a faithful witness: He delivers the souls of the innocent, who are falsely accused, and their good names, which are as dear to them as their lives. A man of integrity will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light and rescue those who are injured by falsehood. A faithful minister, who truly witnesses for God against sin, is thereby instrumental to deliver souls from eternal death. 2. How little regard is to be had to a false witness. He forges lies, and yet pours them out with the greatest assurance imaginable for the destruction of the innocent. It is therefore the interest of a nation by all means possible to detect and punish false-witness-bearing, yea, and lying in common conversation; for truth is the cement of society.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Truth or Falsehood
Verse 25 is construed by some as applying only to the impact of truth and lies in court testimony. However, the principle may be applied to the impact of truth and lies on the eternal destiny of man. The truth rightly presented sets men free from the error that destroys not only life but souls. Deceitful witnesses who distort and suppress truth lead men to eternal destruction, Pro 12:22; Psa 43:3-4; Psa 119:142; Joh 8:32; Joh 14:6; 2Th 2:10; 2Ti 3:7-9.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 14:25
DELIVERANCE BY TRUTH
I. What is implied in a witness bearer. A witness is supposed to give light. Those who have to decide upon a matter seek for the evidence of those who are personally acquainted with the facts. They are expected to testify as to what they have seen and heard, and by thus throwing light upon the subject to further the cause of truth and justice. A witness can only give light by speaking the truth. The words of a truth-teller are like rays of sunlight falling upon an object that was before indistinct, they make plain things which without their aid would be incomprehensible. On the other hand the testimony of a lying witness surrounds everything about which he bears witness with a mist and a darkness, and so foils the efforts of those who are desiring to get a right view of the subject.
II. Life and death are often in the power of those who bear witness. The evidence of a truthful man delivers from deathor from worse than deaththose who are innocent, whereas a false witness may deliver them up to punishment. The one is like the lighthouse which enables the sailor to bring his vessel safely into port, the other is like the false light of the wrecker, by means of which the ship is dashed to pieces on the rocks. The first witness for God in Eden who did not belong to the heavenly family was a false witness who spoke lies. He testified to Eve that God was a hard master, that He had imposed upon her restrictions from a selfish motive, that the punishment which had been threatened would not follow disobedience to the Divine commands. Since this first false witness led our first parents on to death, many a human witness has, in like manner, given to the world false views of the Divine Father which have ended in like results. Both Satan and his servants murder character by bearing false witness. The Incarnate Son of God was pre-eminently The True Witness (Isa. 55:4; Rev. 1:5). He came to deliver men by bearing witness of the true character of God from His own personal knowledge (Joh. 17:25-26). To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that 1 should bear witness unto the truth And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (Joh. 18:37; Joh. 8:32). The truth which Christ taught was chiefly on these three pointsGod, man, immortality. He exhibited God as love, and so the fearful bondage of the mind to the necessity of fate was broken. He taught the truth about the human soul, that it is not in its right place, that it never is in its right place in the dark prison-house of sin, but that its home is freedom, and the breath of Gods life. He taught truth concerning immortality, that this life is not all; that it is only a miserable state of human infancy.(Robertson.) By such testimony this true witness delivered soulsproclaimed liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (Isa. 61:1). On this subject see also on chap. Pro. 12:17, pages 274276.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
We noticed that what crowned the wise was truth or knowledge (Pro. 14:18). Truth to become knowledge must get into the heart. To do so it must be witnessed. We noticed under the second verse that a man staggered, that is, he did not walk in levelness, because he did not see clearly. But, per contra, if a man sees clearly he walks in level ways; and then, according to our present proverb, he saves unconsciously the souls of others. This is most clear when the view is negative. Let there be no witnesses of truth, and where are the saved? No sinners are rescued in a dead nation. Every Christian is a centre of light. The Church is but a body of Christians. Where there is no Church, where are the penitents? The truth intended to be conveyed is, that he who sees the truth spreads it. While he who sees only lies, which is an exact portrait of the unredeemed, serves in spite of himself as a delusion to his friends, and deceives them into unbelief just in proportion to his influence upon them. Woe be to the wife or child where the husband is a deceived witness (Pro. 14:5). Witnessnot in this case one who bears witness, but one who witnesses, in the sense of seeing.Miller.
While true testimony may condemn, false testimony may acquit; while the former may destroy life, the latter may save it. It is probable, therefore, that the intended antithesis relates not so much to the actual fact of truth saving and falsehood condemning, as to the dispositions and intentions of the faithful witness on the one hand and the lying witness on the other. The faithful witness delights in giving testimony that may save life, that will be salutary and beneficial to his fellow-creatures. The lying witness will, in general, be found actuated by a malevolent and wicked purpose; having pleasure in giving testimony that will go to condemn the object of his malice. The sentiment will thus bethat truth is most generally found in union with kindness of heart, and falsehood with malevolence. And this is natural; the former being both good, the latter being both evil, falsehood being naturally more akin to malice, and truth to love. Wardlaw.
Here again there is something like tautology in the second clause. We expect destroyeth life as the antithesis to delivereth souls. But in this case also there is an emphasis in the seeming absence of it. A deceitful witness speaketh lies. What worse could be said of him? All destruction is implied in falsehood.Plumptre.
It is the honour of God to be a deliverer of souls, and that is the honour of a true witness. He delivers his own soul and anothers: his own from the wrath of God, anothers from the injustice of men: his own from wickedness, anothers from injury. The deceitful man speaketh not one lie, but many. The lie of perjury to God, the lie of injustice to the judge, the lie of falsehood to the master. Not one but many lies, because one lie usually bringeth many others with it.Jermin.
The special work for which Christians are left in the world is to be witnesses (Act. 1:8) Christ does not send his angels to proclaim His word or to wield His power. The evidence by which the spirit will convert the world is His truth, uttered from the word, and echoed, still and small, from the meek and quiet life-course of converted men Two qualifications are required in a witness, truth and love (Eph. 4:15): these are needed, but these will do A witness, in contested cases, after giving evidence in chief, is subjected to cross-examination. A Christians profession is, and is understood to be, his direct and positive testimony that he is bought with a price, and that he is bound to serve the Lord who bought him: but as soon as this testimony is emitted, the examination begins. If he be not a true witness, he will stumble there. Either or both of two persons, with very different views, may subject a witness to cross-examinationthe judge or the adversary. It is chiefly done by the adversary, and in his interests. The Supreme himself puts professing disciples to the test before the court of the world; but when He so tries His children, the truth comes forth purer and brighter by the trial. He who goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, tempts to destroy. He puts the witness to the question in order to break him down. We speak of the evidences of religion, but, after all, Christians are the best evidences of Christianity Let no man who bears Christs name lay the unction to his soul, that if he does no good he does no evil. One of the heaviest complaints made in the prophets against Jerusalem for her backsliding, is that she was a comfort to Samaria and Sodom (Eze. 16:54); that those who had the name and place of Gods people, so lived as to make the wicked feel at ease If Christians live as like the world as they can, the world will think itself safe in its sin; and those who should have been the deliverers, will become the destroyers of their neighbours.Arnot.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
TEXT Pro. 14:25-35
25.
A true witness delivereth souls;
But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.
26.
In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence;
And his children shall have a place of refuge.
27.
The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life,
That one may depart from the snares of death.
28.
In the multitude of people is the kings glory;
But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding;
But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30.
A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh;
But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31.
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker;
But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
32.
The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing;
But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
33.
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding;
But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.
34.
Righteousness exalteth a nation;
But sin is a reproach to any people.
35.
The kings favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely;
But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.
STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 14:25-35
1.
A true witness delivereth souls from what (Pro. 14:25)?
2.
How is fear used in Pro. 14:26?
3.
What is meant by fountain of life in Pro. 14:27?
4.
Give a synonym for want in Pro. 14:28.
5.
Give illustrations of hasty of spirit exalting folly (Pro. 14:29).
6.
What is a tranquil heart (Pro. 14:30)?
7.
What passage in Matt. does Pro. 14:31 remind one of?
8.
What is the righteous persons refuge when death comes (Pro. 14:32)?
9.
What is the meaning of resteth in Pro. 14:33?
10.
Trace the truthfulness of Pro. 14:34 in Israels up-and-down history.
11.
Cite the double contrast in Pro. 14:35.
PARAPHRASE OF 14:25-35
25.
A witness who tells the truth saves good men from being sentenced to death, but a false witness is a traitor.
26.
Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.
27.
Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death.
28.
A growing population is a kings glory; a dwindling nation is his doom.
29.
A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes.
30.
A relaxed attitude lengthens a mans life; jealousy rots it away.
31.
Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them To help the poor is to honor God.
32.
The godly have a refuge when they die, but the wicked are crushed by their sins.
33.
Wisdom is enshrined in the hearts of men of common sense, but it must shout loudly before fools will hear it.
34.
Godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35.
A king rejoices in servants who know what they are doing; he is angry with those who cause trouble.
COMMENTS ON 14:25-35
Pro. 14:25. Pro. 14:5 of this chapter speaks of the faithful witness and of the lying witness mentioned in this verse. A true witness delivereth souls or persons from their false accusers in court; a false witness, on the other hand, will tell lies of deceit in order to bring about ones condemnation. This verse has a ready application today to the true gospel preacher who delivers souls from the clutch of sin and the doom it would bring upon him and to the false teacher who utters falsehood deceitfully (Eph. 4:14). The tongue of man is either a mighty instrument for good or a mighty monster for bad (Pro. 18:21).
Pro. 14:26. This and the following verse both refer to the fear of Jehovah. The fear of Jehovah here is that reverence for Him that causes one to commit ones whole self to Him, and when this is done, both he and his children are blessed: he has strong confidence or assurance that God will take care of Him (Heb. 13:5-6; Psa. 23:1-6), and his children (brought up to live the same way) will be likewise blessed.
Pro. 14:27. This verse and Pro. 13:14 strongly resemble. Also compare it with Pro. 14:16. One who fears Jehovah departs from evil that he may escape the snares of death (this verse), which characterizes him as wise (Pro. 14:16). Instead of death he is drinking of the fountain of life. Because Adam and Eve sinned, they were banned from the tree of life, and they brought death upon themselves (Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:22-24).
Pro. 14:28. To be too small in number was to invite invasion, and the rule was that the lesser-in-number lost to the greater-in-number. This is why the men of Gideons army were so fearful (Jdg. 6:33; Jdg. 7:3). In somewhat a different thought Pulpit Commentary says, This maxim is not in accordance with the views of Oriental conquerors and despots, who in their selfish lust of aggrandizement cared not what suffering they inflicted or what blood they shed…The reign of Solomon, the peaceful, gave an intimation that was and conquest were not a monarchs highest glory; that a happy and numerous people, dwelling securely and increasing in numbers, was a better honor for a king and more to be desired (1Ki. 4:24-25; 1Ki. 4:20).
Pro. 14:29. Pro. 14:19 of this chapter deals with the man who is soon angry while this verse deals with one who is slow to anger. The quick-tempered man will deal foolishly (Pro. 14:17), while the calm-headed man is of great understanding (this verse). The man of understanding does not burst into a rage, for to do so is to exalt folly, for an angry man will say and do things before he thinks, which are both unwise and often disastrous. Compare Pro. 16:32 and Jas. 1:19 with this teaching.
Pro. 14:30. There is nothing better for the health of ones body than a tranquil, calm, and peaceful heart. Oh, the health disturbances that are brought on through a distraught mind and heart! All the doctors prescriptions and all the doctors operations cannot put ones health together again. God wants us to live right that we might be at peace with Him (Num. 6:24-26. He wants us to live at peace with our fellowmen (Heb. 12:14). When our consciences are void of offence toward both God and men: (Act. 24:16), what a blessing of peace follows (Col. 3:15; Php. 4:7; Rom. 8:6) Psa. 37:37) 1Pe. 3:11), one of which is the life of the flesh (this verse). Pro. 12:4 also speaks of the rottenness of the bones. When ones very framework is thus deteriorated, ones health is in an extremely bad way.
Pro. 14:31. Ones action toward the poor and needy is here judged in relation to God (Mat. 25:44-45), who is the Maker of the poor as well as any other (Pro. 22:2). Pro. 17:5 speaks of mocking the poor, which also results in reproaching their Maker. Pro. 14:21 of this chapter speaks of having pity on the poor which he does by having mercy upon him (this verse). People of Jobs day understood this teaching (Job. 31:13-15). In life there are some who help make people poor (like the thieves in the Good Samaritan parable, Luk. 10:30) and others who help the needy (like the Good Samaritan himself, Luk. 10:33-34); and then there are also many (like the priest and levite of that parable) who neither made the man poor nor help him get better (Luk. 10:31-32). In which class are you?
Pro. 14:32. The wicked are cut off because of their sins (Psa. 37:1-2), sometimes right while they are committing it (Act. 5:1-10; Lev. 10:1-2; Num. 11:33). The godly have always had the refuge of hope and Gods help in death (Psa. 23:4; Php. 1:21; Php. 1:23; 2Co. 5:8). Even wicked men, like Balaam, have wished to die the death of the righteous (Num. 23:10). Thus the Christian martyrs went joyfully to the stake, and gentle women and little children smiled on the sword which sent them home. It is natural to See in this clause a belief in a future life, and a state of rewards and punishments (Pulpit Commentary). This verse causes us to ask, Which is really more importantto enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and be rejected and punished of God forever or to live the way that is always right and that will end right?
Pro. 14:33. A triple contrast: Wisdom vs. that which is in the inward part of fools; him that hath understanding vs. fools; and resteth vs. is made known. From the contrast we understand the word rest as meaning it quietly resides. Therefore, a wise, informed, and knowledgeable person is not always telling all he may know (he couldnt, and he has no disposition to flaunt his knowledge;. But with fools it is different: they are always talking, and they will tell you everything (Pro. 29:11; Pro. 12:16). For the last clause a few Hebrew copies give, In the midst of fools it maketh itself known.
Pro. 14:34. An oft-quoted verse because its message is pertinent. God sees that righteousness does build up, bless, and make a great nation, and history surely shows that sin deteriorates a nation (many nations have fallen from the inside through moral degradation). Who could better understand this verse than the Israelites themselves who could certainly see that when they had good kings and were following Gods way, the nation was up, and that when they had bad kings and were following wickedness, the nation was down? This is observable throughout Kings and Chronicles.
Pro. 14:35. Every leader that Joseph was under (Potiphar, the jailer, and Pharaoh) could see that he was wise, and they respected that wisdom and showed favor toward him (Gen. 39:3-6; Gen. 39:21-23; Gen. 41:39-43). Daniel, too, though a part of a captured people, was in every kings favor and service that he was under (Dan. 1:19-20; Dan. 2:46-48; Dan. 5:29; Dan. 6:1-3). For the promotion of the wise see Mat. 24:45; Mat. 24:47. Even heathen governments have punished those who did things contrary to its laws and things against its best interest. In this age of softening-punishments (in the government, at work, at school, in the home, etc.) there is a need to return to stricter trials and just punishments.
TEST QUESTIONS OVER 14:25-35
1.
How might Pro. 14:25 apply to preachers?
2.
What does the-fear of Jehovah cause one to do (Pro. 14:26)?
3.
What else does one do who fears Jehovah (Pro. 14:27)?
4.
Why was Gideons army so fearful in Judges 6, 7 (Pro. 14:28)?
5.
How does one hasty of spirit exalt folly (Pro. 14:29)?
6.
Relate both a peaceful heart and an envious heart to ones health (Pro. 14:30).
7.
What are three classes of people in relation to the poor (Pro. 14:31)?
8.
Name some wicked people who were cut down right while doing their sin (Pro. 14:32).
9.
State the contrast in Pro. 14:33 concerning the understand and the fools.
10.
How was the nation of Israel in a good position to understand Pro. 14:34?
11.
What Bible heroes served their governmental superiors well (Pro. 14:35)?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
25. A deceitful witness lies This is true, but the clause is better rendered thus: He that breathes lies (an habitual liar) is a deception, a witness who cannot be depended on. The Speaker’s Commentary accepts the Authorized Version. The antithesis, destroys life, is implied. The witness lies; what worse could be said? All destruction is implied in falsehood.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 25. A true witness,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
Ver. 25. A true witness delivereth souls. ] Or, Lives that lie at stake. He that helps the truth in such a necessity doth a worthy work. To walk about with slanders is to “shed blood.” Eze 22:9 Way was made to that bloody French massacre by false reports cast abroad by the friar liars, that the Protestants, under pretence of religion, met by night that they might feed daintily, and then lie together promiscuously. He that hath a mind to hang his dog, saith the French proverb, will first give out that he is run mad. The devil was first a liar, and then a murderer from the beginning. Joh 8:44
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
souls. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 14:25
Pro 14:25
“A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.”
“A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies he betrays people. “All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone” (Rev 21:8). “The witness has it in his power to save or murder either life or reputation.
Pro 14:25. Pro 14:5 of this chapter speaks of the faithful witness and of the lying witness mentioned in this verse. A true witness delivereth souls or persons from their false accusers in court; a false witness, on the other hand, will tell lies of deceit in order to bring about ones condemnation. This verse has a ready application today to the true gospel preacher who delivers souls from the clutch of sin and the doom it would bring upon him and to the false teacher who utters falsehood deceitfully (Eph 4:14). The tongue of man is either a mighty instrument for good or a mighty monster for bad (Pro 18:21).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Pro 14:5, Act 20:21, Act 20:26, Act 20:27, Act 26:16-20, 1Ti 4:1-3, 2Pe 3:3
Reciprocal: Pro 12:17 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 14:25. A true witness delivereth souls That is, persons, namely, such as, being innocent, are falsely accused; whom he delivers from the mischief designed against them, by declaring the truth, and thereby clearing them from the charges brought against them; but a deceitful witness speaketh lies To the injury and destruction of the innocent.