Proverbs 25:19 kjv

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Proverbs 25:19 nkjv

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

Proverbs 25:19 niv

Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

Proverbs 25:19 esv

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

Proverbs 25:19 nlt

Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.

Proverbs 25 verses

Proverbs 25 19 Meaning

Confidence in a person who is disloyal or acts treacherously, especially during a time of difficulty or need, offers no true help. Instead, it is as painful and debilitating as relying on a tooth that is broken or loose, which causes pain when you try to eat, or a foot that is lame or prone to stumbling, which hinders motion and causes falls precisely when you need to stand or move securely. It means that such misplaced trust not only fails to provide support but actively causes further harm, disappointment, and pain.

Proverbs 25 19 Context

Proverbs 25 falls within a section introduced in verse 1 as "Other proverbs of Solomon that the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied." This collection compiles various wisdom sayings, often expressed as concise, contrasting statements or similes. The proverbs in this chapter cover a wide range of topics, including kingship, self-control, good neighborly conduct, and appropriate speech, offering practical guidance for daily life. Verse 19 specifically addresses the wisdom of choosing trustworthy associates and avoiding misplaced reliance, particularly during adversity. It serves as a caution against expecting genuine assistance from those whose character is fundamentally unreliable, aligning with the broader biblical emphasis on faithfulness and discerning true sources of strength and help.

Proverbs 25 19 Word analysis

• Confidence: The Hebrew word is mivtach (מִבְטָח), which literally means "trust," "security," or "refuge." It implies the leaning of one's weight, resting assuredly in something or someone. Here, its use highlights the act of placing trust. When mivtach is placed in something reliable, it leads to peace; when it's misplaced, as in this verse, it leads to disaster. It represents the psychological and practical reliance on another for support.
• in an unfaithful man: The Hebrew term for "unfaithful" is boged (בֹּוגֵד), derived from the verb bagad (בָּגַד), meaning "to deal treacherously," "to betray," "to be faithless," or "to violate a covenant." This is stronger than merely being unreliable or undependable; it points to deliberate disloyalty or betrayal, a deep moral failing. Such a person does not merely disappoint but can actively undermine or cause harm. This concept is fundamentally opposed to emuna (אֱמוּנָה), faithfulness or steadfastness, which is a core attribute of God and a quality highly valued in biblical relationships.
• in time of trouble: The phrase uses beyom tsarah (בְּיֹום צָרָה). Tsarah (צָרָה) signifies distress, anguish, affliction, or trouble. It implies a time of acute need or emergency. The proverb emphasizes that it is precisely when help is most desperately required that the unfaithful man's treachery or inability to provide support becomes most destructive, similar to a physical weakness manifesting fatally in a crisis.
• is like a broken tooth: The Hebrew for "broken tooth" is shen nubbanah (שֶׁן נֻבָּנָה). Shen (שֶׁן) is "tooth." Nubbanah is a rare form, likely meaning a tooth that is loosened, shattered, pulled out of alignment, or decayed to the point of uselessness and pain. A tooth is essential for consuming food and providing strength. A compromised tooth cannot fulfill its function and, worse, causes acute pain and makes essential activities (like eating) difficult or impossible. The pain and the hindrance are central to the analogy.
• and a lame foot: The Hebrew is v’regel ma'edet (וְרֶגֶל מָעֶדֶת). Regel (רֶגֶל) is "foot." Ma'edet comes from ma'ad (מָעַד), "to slip," "to totter," "to stumble." A lame foot or a foot prone to stumbling cannot provide stable support. It leads to falls and renders one immobile or highly vulnerable when mobility is critical. It fails at its fundamental purpose and also endangers the person.

• words-group analysis: "Confidence in an unfaithful man": This grouping underscores the folly of where one places reliance. The nature of the "man" (specifically his "unfaithfulness") dictates the outcome of the "confidence." This is not about human fallibility in general, but specifically about a deliberate character flaw that results in harm when trust is given. The phrase implies a fundamental misalignment: strength sought where weakness and treachery reside.
• words-group analysis: "a broken tooth and a lame foot": These two distinct yet functionally similar metaphors powerfully convey the outcome of misplaced trust. Both items are body parts meant for essential support (eating and walking, respectively). Their "broken" or "lame" state renders them not just useless but sources of acute pain, discomfort, and hindrance precisely when they are most needed. The pairing emphasizes the dual nature of the detriment: physical pain and functional debilitation, mirroring the emotional pain and practical collapse that betrayal brings in times of crisis.

Proverbs 25 19 Bonus section

This proverb implicitly serves as a counter-argument to the common human inclination to rely on visible, tangible, or human resources rather than invisible, divine ones. It sets up a strong contrast with biblical calls to trust in God alone, who is consistently depicted as utterly faithful (emin) and a reliable rock. The unfaithful man (boged) stands in direct opposition to the character of God, reinforcing the biblical wisdom tradition's emphasis on discerning true from false foundations of security. The vivid, painful imagery underscores the gravity of bad choices in who one aligns with. It teaches that the very people you lean on can be the cause of your downfall or continued suffering if their character is corrupted by disloyalty or treachery.

Proverbs 25 19 Commentary

Proverbs 25:19 provides a striking and visceral illustration of the profound danger and negative consequences of misplaced trust. The proverb highlights that relying on a person known for treachery or unfaithfulness during a critical moment is not merely a wasted effort; it is actively detrimental. Like a broken tooth that inflicts pain when you attempt to chew, or a stumbling foot that causes falls when you need to stand firm or flee, such a "resource" does not merely fail to help but intensifies the crisis by adding pain, instability, and vulnerability. The message is a strong caution against entrusting one's well-being or success to individuals who lack integrity and loyalty, especially when one is most dependent and vulnerable. It serves as a timeless principle for choosing reliable relationships and understanding that true support comes from faithfulness, which ultimately finds its perfect expression in God alone.Examples:

• Relying on a dishonest business partner to secure a vital loan during a financial downturn.
• Confiding a secret to a known gossip who then betrays your trust to your detriment.
• Counting on an unreliable friend to provide critical help in an emergency, only for them to abandon you.