Proverbs 26:26 kjv
Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
Proverbs 26:26 nkjv
Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
Proverbs 26:26 niv
Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Proverbs 26:26 esv
though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Proverbs 26:26 nlt
While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
Proverbs 26 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Job 20:27 | "The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him." | God's creation exposes the wicked. |
| Psa 7:15-16 | "He digs a pit...but falls into the hole he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head." | The wicked fall into their own snare. |
| Psa 10:7 | "His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression." | Description of the deceptive wicked. |
| Psa 32:3-5 | "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away...I acknowledged my sin...and You forgave." | Unconfessed sin leads to decay, confession brings healing. |
| Psa 55:21 | "His speech was smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords." | Deceitful words hide a malicious heart. |
| Psa 139:1-4 | "O Lord, You have searched me and known me!...You discern my thoughts from afar." | God's omniscience, knowing hidden things. |
| Pro 10:18 | "The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool." | Links concealing hatred to deceitful lips. |
| Pro 11:3 | "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." | Deceit leads to destruction. |
| Pro 12:19 | "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment." | Lies are temporary, truth is lasting. |
| Pro 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." | No prosperity for concealed sin; mercy for confession. |
| Isa 45:16 | "They are all ashamed and disgraced...all who make idols." | Public shame awaits those in error. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | "The heart is deceitful above all things...I the Lord search the heart and test the mind." | God reveals the depths of the heart. |
| Mic 7:10 | "Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, 'Where is the Lord your God?'" | Public humiliation for the enemies of God. |
| Obad 1:15 | "For the day of the Lord is near...Your deeds will return on your own head." | Retribution for actions, including deceit. |
| Matt 7:15-20 | "You will recognize them by their fruits...every healthy tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." | Hypocrisy is revealed by one's actions and outcomes. |
| Luke 8:17 | "For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light." | Universal principle: all hidden things will be revealed. |
| Luke 12:2-3 | "Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known...what you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light." | Christ's teaching on the ultimate exposure of all secrets. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time...until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness." | God reveals secret motives and hidden deeds. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Divine justice ensures consequences for all actions, hidden or not. |
| Eph 5:11-13 | "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them...all things when exposed are made manifest by the light." | Exhortation to expose evil, as light reveals. |
| Heb 4:13 | "No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." | God's complete knowledge of all things. |
| 1 John 3:15 | "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life." | Defines hatred as severe sin, comparable to murder. |
Proverbs 26 verses
Proverbs 26 26 Meaning
Proverbs 26:26 reveals the ultimate futility of hidden malice and deceit. It asserts that despite elaborate attempts to conceal hatred and wickedness through clever dissimulation, the true evil nature and actions of a person will inevitably be brought to light and publicly exposed.
Proverbs 26 26 Context
Proverbs chapter 26 deals extensively with various aspects of foolishness, idleness (sluggards), and mischievous, deceitful behavior. Verses 18-28 specifically warn against those who use lies, trickery, and hidden malice to harm others. This verse (26:26) is part of a larger theme that exposes the destructive nature of deceit and highlights the ultimate consequence of hidden evil. In ancient Near Eastern societies, reputation and public honor were paramount, and exposure "before the assembly" signified immense shame and disgrace, not merely a private revelation but a social one. The book of Proverbs frequently emphasizes that the moral order of the universe, upheld by God, ensures that evil actions, no matter how cunningly concealed, will eventually face reckoning and be brought to light.
Proverbs 26 26 Word analysis
- Though his hatred (שִׂנְאָה - sin'ah): Deep-seated enmity, animosity, or malice. It's an internal, active state of ill will, often concealed but profoundly destructive.
- hides itself (תִּכַּסֶּה - tikkasseh): From the root כסה (kasah), meaning "to cover," "to conceal," or "to hide." This verb suggests a deliberate and active effort to disguise or mask the true feeling or intention.
- with dissimulation (בַּמִּקְצוּעוֹת - bamik'tsu'ot): This is a key and complex word. From the root קצע (qatsa), often meaning "corner," "angle," or "to scrape/polish smooth." It has been variously interpreted as "with trickery," "with deceit," "by subtle contrivance," "in corners," or even "with paint" (suggesting a superficial cover-up, like smoothing over blemishes). The general consensus emphasizes the use of cunning, artifice, or elaborate means to disguise malicious intent. It speaks of a carefully constructed facade or pretense.
- his wickedness (רָעָה - ra'ah): Refers to moral evil, badness, harm, or destructive deeds. It is the active manifestation of the internal hatred.
- will be openly shown (יִגָּלֶה - yiggaleh): From the root גלה (galah), meaning "to uncover," "to reveal," "to expose." This verb implies an inevitable unveiling. It's a passive form, indicating that the wickedness will be brought into the open, perhaps by circumstances, divine providence, or its own unavoidable consequences, regardless of human efforts to hide it.
- before the assembly (בְּקָהָל - b'qahal): Publicly, in the sight of the community, congregation, or assembly. This denotes the public nature of the exposure, bringing disgrace and shame to the one who sought to deceive. It underscores that God's justice is often, though not always, publicly visible.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Though his hatred hides itself with dissimulation": This phrase describes the active, calculated, and often elaborate efforts of the deceiver to mask their true feelings and intentions. The "dissimulation" is not a simple lie, but a deep-seated craftiness, perhaps a pretense of friendship or kindness, while harboring malice.
- "his wickedness will be openly shown before the assembly": This signifies the inevitable outcome. Despite all efforts to hide, the hidden evil will not remain concealed. The "wickedness" here is the fruit of the "hatred" and its deceitful actions. Its revelation will be public, ensuring the deceiver faces public shame and consequences in the eyes of the community. This points to a moral order in the universe where truth, sooner or later, comes to light.
Proverbs 26 26 Bonus section
The underlying theological premise of this proverb is God's omniscience and His justice. Because God is just and knows all things (Heb 4:13), no deed or intent can ultimately be hidden from Him. While immediate earthly revelation may not always occur, the certainty of a future reckoning (1 Cor 4:5) reinforces this proverb's truth. The proverb reflects the ancient wisdom that a person's character is ultimately revealed through their actions, and prolonged deception is unsustainable in God's ordered world. It serves as both a warning to the wicked and an assurance to the righteous that injustice, however cleverly veiled, will not permanently escape divine or natural consequences. This verse encapsulates the futility of human craftiness when it opposes divine principles of truth and righteousness.
Proverbs 26 26 Commentary
Proverbs 26:26 stands as a powerful testament to the moral order established by God, where hidden evil cannot eternally remain concealed. It speaks of individuals who meticulously craft a façade of integrity or even benevolence to mask a heart brimming with hatred and malicious intent. The "dissimulation" implies an advanced degree of cunning and deceptive artistry, a smooth veneer designed to mislead. Yet, the wisdom of God declares that such efforts are ultimately futile. The internal "hatred" that fuels external "wickedness" will eventually burst forth or be exposed, often by divine design, by unexpected circumstances, or by the sheer weight of its own accumulating deceit. The phrase "before the assembly" highlights the public nature of this exposure, ensuring not just personal accountability but also communal recognition of the wrongdoer's true character and the subsequent shame. This principle reminds believers that truth will ultimately prevail, hypocrisy will be unmasked, and all hidden deeds, whether good or evil, will be brought into the light of divine scrutiny, either for reward or for reckoning. It discourages deceitful practices by showing their certain and public undoing.
- Example 1: A business owner feigns generosity and support for a competitor, while secretly plotting to undermine them financially. Eventually, their manipulative tactics and true intentions are exposed during a public legal dispute, damaging their reputation irreversibly.
- Example 2: Someone offers "advice" to a friend while subtly inserting destructive criticisms intended to sow doubt and discord in their relationships. Over time, the pattern of their veiled malice becomes clear to others, and their destructive influence is publicly recognized.