Bible/Proverbs/21

Proverbs 21:28

21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? with: Heb. in wickedness?
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. A: Heb. A witness of lies

KJV

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A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.

A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.

21:29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. directeth: or, considereth

What does Proverbs 21:28 mean?

Proverbs 21:28 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include כָּזָב (kâzâb), עֵד (ʻêd), אָבַד (ʼâbad). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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A
falseכָּזָבkâzâb/kaw-zawb'/H3577falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)
witnessעֵדʻêd/ayd/H5707concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince
shall
perish:אָבַדʼâbad/aw-bad'/H6properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
but
the
manאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
that
hearethשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
speakethדָבַרdâbar/daw-bar'/H1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
constantly.נֶצַחnetsach/neh'-tsakh/H5331properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at adistance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view)
A:
Heb.
A
witness
of
lies

Commentary on Proverbs 21:28

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 21:28
he, ver. 1 . II. Have they their thrones? So has he, ver. 2 . III. Have they their enemies whom they subdue and triumph over? So has he, ver. 3, 4 . IV. Is it their honour to be faithful and holy? So it is his, ver. 5 . In singing this psalm we forget ourselves if we forget Christ, to whom the Father has given all power both in heaven and in earth. The Glory and Majesty of God. 1 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord , the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Proverbs 8:22

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Proverbs 8:23

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

Micah 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. everlasting: Heb. the days of eternity

Hebrews 1:10

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Revelation 1:17

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Revelation 1:18

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 2:8

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 21:28.

Deuteronomy 1:43

So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill. went: Heb. ye were presumptuous, and went up

Deuteronomy 3:26

But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

Deuteronomy 4:12

And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. only: Heb. save a voice

Deuteronomy 4:33

Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?

Deuteronomy 5:1

And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. keep: Heb. keep to do them

Deuteronomy 5:24

And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

Deuteronomy 5:26

For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

Deuteronomy 5:27

Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 21:28 say?

Proverbs 21:28 (King James Version) reads: "A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. A: Heb. A witness of lies"

Is Proverbs 21:28 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 21:28 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 21:28, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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21:27Read all of Proverbs 2121:29