Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 25:23
The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
23. driveth away ] Rather, bringeth forth, A.V. marg., R.V. text. The rendering of A.V. text follows the Vulg., dissipat pluvias, and is apparently supported by Job 37:22: “Fair weather,” or “golden brightness, cometh out of the north,” a phenomenon which is there attributed to the action of the wind blowing from that quarter (see Pro 25:21 and note in this Series). But by “north” may perhaps here be meant “north-west.” (“Intelligendus ille ventus qui inter aquilonem et occasum flat, Thrascias sive Caurus, qui a Seneca in Hippol. 25:1130 imbrifer dicitur,” Rosenm.) The comparison thus becomes clear and forcible: The north wind bringeth forth rain. The secret action of the wind covers the heaven with clouds, so doth (adopting R.V. in preference to A.V.) a backbiting tongue an angry countenance; its secret malignity is sure to be discovered and to clothe the countenance of its victim with dark anger.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The marginal reading is far more accurate and gives a better sense. The northwest wind in Palestine commonly brings rain, and this was probably in the thought of the writer.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 25:23
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Righteous anger
The marginal reading, which is, The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance, gives quite the opposite sense. In Arabia the north wind blew over a long tract of dry land, and therefore usually brought dry weather (Job 27:21); but in Judea the north wind, including all the winds between the north and north-west, blew from the Mediterranean Sea, and therefore commonly brought rain. Accepting the marginal version, the idea is, that as the north wind brings forth rain, a backbiting tongue brings forth an angry countenance. But our version, which we think equally faithful to the original, gives an idea equally good and important; it is, that an expression of displeasure in the listener will silence the tongue of the backbiter. The anger referred to here is a righteous anger; its object is legitimate, its expression is natural, its influence is useful.
I. Its object is legitimate. It is directed against a backbiting tongue. A backbiter is a clandestine traducer of character. His speech goes to damage anothers reputation behind his back. He does it sometimes by telling truth as well as falsehood. A man need not tell lies to be a backbiter; he can do it by parading damaging facts, and such damaging facts may be found in the chapters of every mans life. He does it sometimes un-maliciously. He may be prompted by vanity; he may disparage another in order to set himself off to better advantage. He may do it from greed: his object may be to rob the subject of his talk of some share of his patronage and support.
II. Its expression is natural. An angry countenance. The countenance is a fuller, more faithful, and forceful revealer of the soul than the tongue. An admiring look has often won hearts which no words could enlist. A courageous look in the leaders of campaigns wakes the invincible in battalions. A reproving look has broken hearts, as Christs broke the heart of Peter. An angry look, not a mere peevish, petulant look, but a look of right down honest anger, directed to a backbiter, would send him in mute confusion from your presence.
III. Its influence is useful. The north wind driveth away rain, so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 23. The north wind driveth away rain] The margin has, “The north wind bringeth forth rain.” It is said that the “north wind brings forth rain at Jerusalem, because it brings with it the vapours arising from the sea that lies north of it.” The marginal is the true reading; and is supported by the Chaldee, Syriac, and Septuagint; but the Arabic reads south wind.
A backbiting tongue] A hidden tongue.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
An angry countenance in the hearer, who by his countenance showeth his dislike of such persons and practices.
A backbiting tongue, Heb. a secret tongue, which privily slandereth his neighbour, as it is expressed, Psa 101:5, and as the manner of backbiters is. But this verse is otherwise rendered in the margin, and by divers others, the north wind bringeth forth (as this verb properly and most frequently signifies, and as it is rendered by all the ancient interpreters, and by many others) rain (which it doth in Judea, because the sea lies northward as well as westward from it, as also in Africa, as Aristotle observes, though it drive away rain in countries of another situation):
so doth a backbiting tongue (cause)
an angry countenance; it causeth much anger and mischief; both to the person slandered, and to the slanderer, and to other persons who may be concerned with or for either of them, as is manifest from common experience.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. Better, “As the northwind bringeth forth (Ps 90:2)or produces rain, so does a concealed or slandering tongue produceanger.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The north wind driveth away rain,…. So the geographer w says, the swift north wind drives away the moist clouds; which usually come from the opposite quarter, the south. The word used has the signification of conceiving, and begetting, and bringing forth; hence some x render it to a different sense, and so the Targum,
“the north wind bringeth forth rain;”
and in this sense Gersom interprets it, and says,
“the north wind produces rain in Jerusalem, because it brings there the vapours that ascend from the sea, which lies north unto it;”
and the philosopher y says, that in the northern parts of the world the south wind produces rain; and in the southern parts the north wind produces it, as in Judea. But in Job 37:22, fair, fine, golden, serene, “weather”, is said to “come out of the north”; agreeably to which, the north wind is by Homer z called , the producer of serene weather; and by Virgil a “clarus aquilo”, i.e. what makes serene. The Arabic version reads it, “the south wind”; and that does bring rain, and, as that version has it, excites the clouds. But the first reading and sense of the words seem best b, and agree with what follows:
so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue; drives it away, discourages and silences it. When a man puts on a stern countenance, a frowning and angry look, on such who bring him slanderous reports and idle tales of their neighbours, and reproach and backbite them, it checks them, and puts a stop to their practices; whereas listening to them, and especially with an air of pleasure, encourages them in them; were there not so many that take pleasure in hearing those talebearers and backbiters, were they more roughly dealt with, as the blustering north wind does with the rain, there would not be so much of this evil practised.
w Dionysii Perieg. v. 532. x “parturiet”, Montanus; “gignit”, Junius Tremellius “parturit”, Schultens. y Aristot. Metaphysic. l. 2. z Iliad. 19. v. 358. Odyss. 5. v. 295. a Georgic. l. 1. prope finem. b “Ventorum frigidissimi quos a septentrione diximus spirare, et reliquos compescunt, et nubes abigunt”, Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 47.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The next group of proverbs extends from Pro 25:23 to Pro 25:28.
23 Wind from the north produceth rain;
And a secret tongue a troubled countenance.
The north is called , from , to conceal, from the firmament darkening itself for a longer time, and more easily, like the old Persian apakhtara , as (so it appears) the starless, and, like aquilo , the north wind, as bringing forward the black clouds. But properly the “fathers of rain” are, in Syria, the west and the south-west; and so little can here mean the pure north wind, that Jerome, who knew from his own experience the changes of weather in Palestine, helps himself, after Symmachus ( ), with a quid pro quo out of the difficulty: ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias ; the Jewish interpreters (Aben Ezra, Joseph Kimchi, and Meri) also thus explain, for they connect together , in the meaning , with the unintelligible (far be it!). But may also, perhaps like ( Deutsch. Morgenl. Zeitsch. xxi. 600f.), standing not without connection therewith, denote the northwest; and probably the proverb emphasized the northern direction of the compass, because, according to the intention of the similitude, he seeks to designate such rain as is associated with raw, icy-cold weather, as the north wind (Pro 27:16, lxx, Sir. 43:20) brings along with it. The names of the winds are gen. fem., e.g., Isa 43:6. (Aquila, ; cf. Pro 8:24, ) has in Codd., e.g., the Jaman., the tone on the penult., and with Tsere Metheg ( Thorath Emeth, p. 21) serving as . So also the Arab. nataj is used of the wind, as helping the birth of the rain-clouds. Manifestly , countenances manifesting extreme displeasure ( vid., the Kal , Pro 24:24), are compared to rain. With justice Hitzig renders , as e.g., Joh 2:6, in the plur. sense; because, for the influence which the tongue slandering in secret (Psa 101:5) has on the slandered, the “sorrowful countenance” would not be so characteristic as for the influence which it exercises on the mutual relationships of men: the secret babbler, the confidential communication throwing suspicion, now on this one and now on that one, behind their backs, excites men against one another, so that one shows to another a countenance in which deep displeasure and suspicion express themselves.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Here see, 1. How we must discourage sin and witness against it, and particularly the sin of slandering and backbiting; we must frown upon it, and, by giving it an angry countenance, endeavour to put it out of countenance. Slanders would not be so readily spoken as they are if they were not readily heard; but good manners would silence the slanderer if he saw that his tales displeased the company. We should show ourselves uneasy if we heard a dear friend, whom we value, evil-spoken of; the same dislike we should show of evil-speaking in general. If we cannot otherwise reprove, we may do it by our looks. 2. The good effect which this might probably have; who knows but it may silence and drive away a backbiting tongue? Sin, if it be countenanced, becomes daring, but, if it receive any check, it is so conscious of its own shame that it becomes cowardly, and this sin in particular, for many abuse those they speak of only in hopes to curry favour with those they speak to.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Righteous Indignation
Verse 23 suggests that as a certain wind drives away rain so does an angry countenance cause the backbiting tongue to cease. This is not intended to encourage anger but suggests that evil should arouse sufficient righteous indignation to show in facial expression, Exo 32:19; Lev 10:16; 1Sa 11:1-6; Psa 101:5.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 25:23. Driveth away. Rather Brings forward the rain-clouds. Most modern commentators adopt this rendering of the verb, and read the latter phrase to suit the metaphorSo a secret or slanderous tongue, a troubled countenance.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 25:23
THE WAY TO TREAT A BACKBITER
It will be seen from a reference to the Critical Notes, that nearly all modern commentators render this verse quite differently from the common version, and so reverse the meaning. It will, however, bear the common rendering. I confess, says Wardlaw, that if the word will bear it at all, our version seems decidedly preferable. There is something tame, commonplace, and of little practical consequencehardly worth forming the subject of a proverbin saying that as the north wind brings rain, a backbiting tongue brings anger. But the verse as it stands in our translation inculcates a most important lesson. We therefore take the proverb as we find it in our Bible, as setting forth
I. An unrighteous action producing a righteous emotion. We have before had brought before us in this book the peculiar iniquity of backbiting and its evil results (see page 274). The special unrighteousness of the act lies, of course, in the fact that the person who is the subject of it, being absent and ignorant of the charge brought against him, has no opportunity of defending himself. A feeling of indignation against such an act, and an expression of it in the countenance, is therefore demanded from every lover of truth and justice. He who will calmly listen to a tale of slander and show no tokens of disapproval, makes himself a partaker of the sin. But it is impossible for a righteous man to act thus. When a putrid body is presented to our bodily senses, if we are healthy men we experience a feeling of revulsion which we cannot conceal. And so if a man is morally healthy he must experience and reveal a strong dislike to the backbiting tongue.
II. The unrighteous action overpowered by the righteous emotion. When the heavy rain-clouds which overspread the sky are dispersed and driven away by the wind, they show themselves to be the weaker of the two contending forces. And so when the backbiting tongue is silenced by the look of righteous indignation, it gives proof that, however strong the workings of evil are, the power of goodness is stronger. Those who set their faces against this or any other vice, may always draw encouragement from the fact that there is a reprover within the breast of the wrong-doer, which in spite of all efforts to stifle it, seconds the reprover from withoutwherever the conscience is at all awake, it says Amen to a faithful rebuke, whether administered by word or look. And so it is that a countenance upon which is written righteous anger is so potent a check to a backbiting tongue.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
It is a great encouragement to talebearers, to observe that their wicked stories are heard with attention. If a man looks upon them with a cheerful countenance, and listens to their tales, and makes them welcome to his table, they naturally conclude that the person to whom they speak has as bad a heart as themselves, and they will not fail to bring him new stories of the like kind, as soon as they have got an opportunity to learn or to make them. But if the receiver of stolen goods is a sharer with the thief in his guilt, and if any man that encourages another in evil partakes in his sin, then he that hears the backbiter with complacency is little better than himself, and would probably follow the same trade if he had the same talents for it. We cannot, therefore, clear ourselves from the sin of backbiting, unless we refuse to receive a bad report of our neighbour, and testify our displeasure, by all proper methods, at the base conduct of the assassins that would murder in the dark the good-name of their fellow-creatures. When the murderers of Isbosheth brought their masters head to David, judging from their own disposition that it would be an acceptable present to him, he treated them in such a manner that no man ever sent another present of the like kind to him.Lawson.
There is a place for anger as well as for love. As in nature, a gloomy tempest serves some beneficial purposes for which calm sunshine has no faculty; so in morals, a frown on an honest mans brow is in its own place, as needful and useful as the sweetest smile that kindness ever kindled on the human countenance We dont want a fretful passionate man; and if we did, we could find one without searching long or going far. We want neither a man of wrath nor a man of indiscriminating, unvarying softness. We want something with two sides; that is, a solid real character. Let us have a man who loves good and hates evil, and who, in place and time convenient, can make either emotion manifest upon his countenance. The frown of anger is the shade that lies under love and brings out its beauty.Arnot.
For Homiletics on Pro. 25:24, see on chap. Pro. 21:9, page 613.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(23) The north wind driveth away rain.The marginal rendering is probably more correct: The north wind bringeth forth rain; but as this seems to be opposed to Job. 37:22, it has been thought that the north-west, which is a rainy wind, must be intended here.
So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.Rather, So doth a backbiting tongue (bring forth, or cause) troubled faces.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. The north wind The north, or, rather, northwest wind is said to bring rain at Jerusalem, because it brings up vapours from the Mediterranean Sea. Luk 12:54.
Driveth away The marginal reading is, “bringeth forth,” which is generally preferred as being more consonant with the etymology, better supported by the Versions, and more consonant to the fact.
Angry countenance a backbiting tongue Many interpreters transpose the sentence and read thus: The north wind brings forth rain, and a covert tongue an angry countenance. (Conant and others.) This meaning is not beyond doubt. , ( tsaphon,) north, means hidden, concealed. The north was the dark, unknown quarter, as compared to the sunny south. This may have given the proverb more point to the Hebrews than it has for us. A wind from the hidden part produces a shower: a concealed (sly, slanderous) tongue, sorry faces.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 25:23. The north wind driveth away rain, &c. See the Observations, p. 37.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Were there ever such tidings proclaimed as the tidings of salvation? And what waters to a thirsty soul, can equal the gratification of the souls thirst, when satisfied with redemption in Christ’s blood. News indeed from a far country, for it comes from heaven to earth, and from God to man. Angels posted down to proclaim it; and Jesus came and confirmed it by his blood: blessings on his name!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Ver. 23. The north wind drives away rain. ] Hence Homer calls it , the fair weather maker, and Jerome the air’s besom. There is a southerly wind that attracts clouds and engenders rain. a
So doth an angry countenance, a backbiting tongue.
a Caecias nubes attrahit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
driveth away = bringeth forth. Hebrew. hul. an angry countenance. Supply the Ellipsis thus: by adding “[produceth]”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 25:23
Pro 25:23
“The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.”
The versions reveal two different meanings of this. “The north wind drives away rain; so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. Here the angry countenance is that of one who hears the words of the backbiter. “The north wind brings forth rain; and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. Here the angry looks are upon the face of the victim of the slander. The passage is true both ways.
Pro 25:23. Rainfall in the north of Palestine is heavier than in the south, so a wind from that direction would bring moisture (or from the west, where the sea is, Luk 12:54) while one from the south (which is desert) would only bring parching weather (Luk 12:55). Just as surely will a tongue that bites a person behind his back arouse an angry countenance in the one so spoken of/against. Backbiting is serious: it is mentioned in Rom 1:30 among the awful sins of that chapters long list; it is mentioned in 2Co 12:20 as a part of church-trouble; Psa 15:1-3 shows one must be free from it to dwell in Gods tabernacle on His holy hill; and Psa 101:5 says God will destroy one guilty of it.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
north: Job 37:22
driveth: etc. or, bringeth forth rain; so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance, Monconys says, that when travelling on the second of January, 1648, from Tripoli in Syria, between Lebanon and the sea, it rained without ceasing, while the north wind blew directly in his face.
so: Pro 26:20, Psa 15:3, Psa 101:5, Rom 1:30, 2Co 12:20
Reciprocal: Gen 8:1 – a wind Exo 23:1 – shalt not 1Sa 24:9 – General Pro 13:17 – but Pro 29:12 – General Eph 4:26 – ye Eph 4:31 – evil speaking
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 25:23. The north wind, &c. As the sharpness of the north wind scatters clouds, and drives away rain, so a severe countenance, full of indignation against him that traduces his neighbour, not only gives a check, but puts a stop to his slanderous tongue; which would not tell such lies if they were not greedily received. So Bishop Patrick, who justly observes, however, that the verse will admit of a quite contrary sense; as, indeed, the reader may see by the margin, where he finds a translation of the words very different from that in the text, but more agreeable to the Hebrew original, and countenanced by most of the ancient interpreters. Thus the Chaldee renders the first clause, The north wind, , concipit, conceives, or produces, rain: and the Seventy, , the north wind raises clouds. Undoubtedly the north wind brings clouds and rain in some climates, and if, as some assert, it generally does so in Judea, as according to Aristotle it does in those parts of Africa which border on the Mediterranean sea, this interpretation ought certainly to be preferred. Either of them, however, shows the odious disposition and character of backbiters; and that they ought to be discountenanced and frowned upon by all that love their fellow-creatures, and wish peace to be promoted among men.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The angry countenance belongs to the person who is the target of the backbiting (slanderous) tongue. Sly words can infuriate people just as a northerly wind brings rain. These are inevitable results.
"An untimely, icy blast of rain from the north takes the farmer aback and ruins his crop (cf. Pro 26:1; Pro 28:3). So also the unaware victim, when he hears the slander, realizes that the benefits he was about to reap from his work are suddenly ruined." [Note: Waltke, The Book . . . 31, p. 333.]