Proverbs 27:14 kjv
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
Proverbs 27:14 nkjv
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.
Proverbs 27:14 niv
If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.
Proverbs 27:14 esv
Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
Proverbs 27:14 nlt
A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning
will be taken as a curse!
Proverbs 27 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 26:28 | A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin. | Flattery harms. |
| Ps 12:2-3 | Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips... | Insincere speech. |
| Rom 16:18 | For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. | Self-serving deception. |
| Jude 1:16 | ...they speak boastfully, flattering people to gain advantage. | Flattery for personal gain. |
| Job 32:21-22 | Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone, nor put on a flattering disguise. For I do not know how to flatter... | Avoidance of flattery. |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good and good evil... | Distortion of truth/values. |
| Ecc 3:1-8 | There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens... | Principle of right timing. |
| Ecc 7:6 | Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. | Vain, noisy acts. |
| Prov 15:23 | A person finds joy in giving an apt reply; and how good is a word spoken at the right time! | Value of timely words. |
| Prov 25:11 | Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word fitly spoken. | Beauty of appropriate speech. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | But all things should be done decently and in order. | Principle of order and decorum. |
| Matt 6:5-6 | "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others... | Public display for self-glory. |
| Matt 6:16 | "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting..." | Hypocritical outward shows. |
| Jas 1:22 | Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. | Action over empty words. |
| 2 Pet 2:3 | In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. | Deception for exploitation. |
| Phil 1:15-18 | Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill... | Mixed motives for seemingly good acts. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height... The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." | Divine focus on inner motive. |
| Prov 23:7 | For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you. | Lack of sincerity. |
| John 5:41-44 | "I do not accept praise from human beings, but I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts... How can you believe when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the one God?" | Seeking human praise over divine. |
| 1 Thess 2:5 | You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. | Genuine ministry vs. flattery. |
| Prov 28:23 | Whoever rebukes a person will in the end find more favor than one who uses flattery. | Rebukes preferred to flattery. |
| Mal 1:10 | "Oh, that one among you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty... | Acts without sincerity displease God. |
Proverbs 27 verses
Proverbs 27 14 Meaning
Proverbs 27:14 teaches that praise or blessing given in an excessive, ostentatious, or ill-timed manner, particularly with a loud voice early in the morning, is not perceived as a kindness but rather as an irritation or even an insult, akin to a curse. It emphasizes that the manner and motive behind an act significantly affect its reception, transforming what is intended as a positive into something negative.
Proverbs 27 14 Context
Proverbs chapter 27 offers wisdom on various aspects of human relationships, self-control, and the nature of true friendship versus deceit. It contrasts direct, honest counsel (like in verse 6, "faithful are the wounds of a friend") with superficial or insincere praise. The verse falls within a collection of proverbs that underscore the importance of authenticity, proper conduct, and discernment in social interactions. Historically and culturally, genuine expressions of respect and honor were valued, while loud, showy, or ill-timed displays were often viewed with suspicion, suggesting ulterior motives or a lack of true humility and discernment. Early morning was typically a quiet time, possibly for personal devotion or preparatory work, making a loud public "blessing" an inappropriate and intrusive act.
Proverbs 27 14 Word analysis
He that blesseth: From the Hebrew root barakh (בּרך), meaning to bless, praise, salute. Here, it signifies someone performing an act intended or proclaimed as a blessing, or offering effusive praise.
his friend: The recipient is an acquaintance or associate, implying a relationship that ought to be based on genuine goodwill, not ostentation.
with a loud voice: Qol gadol (קוֹל גָּדוֹל), literally "great voice." This denotes an overly pronounced, attention-grabbing, and public manner, lacking subtlety and sincerity, often indicative of a performance.
rising early in the morning: Mashkim baboqer (מַשְׁכִּים בַּבֹּקֶר). To do something conspicuously early, deliberately disruptive. Early morning was generally a time for quiet reflection or serious business, so a loud display at this hour is a breach of etiquette, suggestive of an eager-to-be-seen attitude or thoughtlessness.
it shall be counted: From the Hebrew chasab (חֶשֶׁב), meaning to reckon, devise, account. The act will be judged or perceived by the recipient and observers as something other than what it claims to be.
a curse to him: Qelalah (קְלָלָה), meaning a curse or execration. The intended positive (a blessing) dramatically reverses its effect. The ill-timed, overly loud, or insincere praise is received as offensive, annoying, mocking, or even malicious, producing the very opposite of a blessing.
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice: This phrase highlights an act that is overtly performative rather than sincerely relational. It suggests that the person seeks attention for their act of "blessing" rather than truly wanting to benefit their friend.
rising early in the morning: This element compounds the inappropriate nature of the act, signifying a complete disregard for the comfort or preferences of the friend. It indicates a lack of thoughtfulness, discretion, and perhaps even an intrusive motive.
it shall be counted a curse to him: The outcome reveals the true nature of such a performance. The recipient will interpret the "blessing" as an annoyance, a mockery, or an insincere act that brings discomfit, effectively nullifying its supposed good intention and transforming it into a negative experience.
Proverbs 27 14 Bonus section
The proverb subtly contrasts the genuine expressions of care (as seen in Prov 27:5-6, which praises open rebuke from a friend) with disingenuous flattery. True friendship can tolerate honest correction, but it recoils from pompous, insincere "blessings." The "curse" aspect does not necessarily imply magical malevolence but refers to the strong negative reaction and discomfort experienced by the recipient, signifying the complete reversal of the intended positive effect. It speaks to social wisdom and emotional intelligence, advocating for appropriate timing, sincerity, and humility in interpersonal communication. It underscores that human relationships thrive on genuine connection, not performative acts.
Proverbs 27 14 Commentary
Proverbs 27:14 serves as a potent warning against ostentatious or insincere displays of affection or praise. It reveals that the heart and manner behind an action dictate its true reception, rather than its superficial appearance. A "blessing" delivered with excessive volume, particularly at an inconvenient or unseemly hour like early morning, immediately raises questions about sincerity. Such an act is perceived not as genuine goodwill but as a performative show, often for the benefit of the giver's ego or to manipulate the receiver. The recipient, instead of feeling blessed, feels annoyed, mocked, or intruded upon, thereby transforming the attempted blessing into something offensive – a curse. This proverb teaches discretion, humility, and the critical importance of genuine intention over showy display in all our interactions, reminding us that true virtue operates quietly and thoughtfully.
For example, a person publicly showering praise on an acquaintance purely to gain favor from others, or a pastor delivering an overly theatrical "blessing" for an individual in a loud, distracting way before the congregation primarily to draw attention to himself. Such acts are recognized as lacking true benevolence.