Proverbs 24:26

Webster's Bible (1833)

An honest answer Is like a kiss on the lips.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שְׂפָתַ֥יִם יִשָּׁ֑ק מֵ֝שִׁ֗יב דְּבָרִ֥ים נְכֹחִֽים׃

Transliteration

Śəpātayim yiššāq mēšîb dəbārîm nəkōḥîm

Grammar Details

• *śəpātayim*: feminine dual noun - lips
• *yiššāq*: Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he kisses
• *mēšîb*: Hiphil participle, masculine singular - one who returns
• *dəbārîm*: masculine plural noun - words
• *nəkōḥîm*: masculine plural adjective - right/honest

Word Meanings

• *yiššāq*: kisses/shows affection
• *mēšîb*: one who returns/one who answers/one who responds
• *dəbārîm*: words/matters/things
• *nəkōḥîm*: right/honest/straightforward

Referenced Verses

• Prov 25:11-12 : 11 A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver. 12 As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
• Dan 2:46-48 : 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. 47 The king answered to Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you have been able to reveal this secret. 48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
• Mark 12:17-18 : 17 Jesus answered them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled greatly at him. 18 There came to him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying,
• Mark 12:32-34 : 32 The scribe said to him, "Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." No one dared ask him any question after that.
• Gen 41:38-57 : 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" 39 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you." 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck, 43 and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, "Bow the knee!" He set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt." 45 Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 In the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth abundantly. 48 He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, he laid up in the same. 49 Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number. 50 To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh,{"Manasseh" sounds like the Hebrew for "forget."} "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house." 52 The name of the second, he called Ephraim{"Ephraim" sounds like the Hebrew for "twice fruitful."}: "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." 53 The seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end. 54 The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do." 56 The famine was over all the surface of the earth. Joseph opened all the store-houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 All countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth.
• Job 6:25 : 25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
• Prov 15:23 : 23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
• Prov 16:1 : 1 The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.