Proverbs 25:26

¶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

A righteous {H6662} man falling down {H4131} before {H6440} the wicked {H7563} is as a troubled {H7515} fountain {H4599}, and a corrupt {H7843} spring {H4726}.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

Asa troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So isa righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

Proverbs 25:26 offers a vivid metaphor for the detrimental impact when a righteous person compromises their integrity or yields to the influence of the wicked. It likens such a scenario to a vital water source becoming polluted and unusable.

Context

This verse is part of the "Proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out" (Proverbs 25:1). This section of Proverbs often deals with practical wisdom concerning social conduct, justice, and the nature of leadership. The imagery of a "fountain" or "spring" would have been particularly potent in the arid ancient Near East, where clean water sources were essential for survival and prosperity. A defiled water source was a catastrophe, symbolizing a fundamental breakdown of order and well-being within a community.

Key Themes

  • The Integrity of the Righteous: The verse underscores the critical importance of a righteous individual maintaining their moral standing and principles. Their uprightness is a source of purity and truth for others, akin to a clean water supply.
  • Consequences of Compromise: When a righteous person "falls down" (yields, stumbles, or is overcome) before the wicked, it implies a failure to uphold justice or truth, or perhaps succumbing to pressure or temptation. This act is not merely personal but has significant public implications.
  • Societal Contamination: The powerful imagery of a "troubled fountain" and "corrupt spring" highlights that the compromise of a righteous individual pollutes the very source of moral clarity and justice for a community. It suggests that when those expected to uphold truth and righteousness fail, the entire system becomes unreliable and harmful, much like poisoned water. This can refer to a legal context where a righteous judge or witness fails, or a broader moral context where a pillar of the community compromises their values.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "falling down" (נָמוֹג - namog) can mean to melt away, totter, or give way. It suggests a collapse or succumbing, not necessarily a physical fall, but a moral or judicial one. It implies that the righteous person fails to stand firm against evil or injustice. The terms "troubled fountain" (מַעְיָן נִרְפָּס - ma'yan nirpas) and "corrupt spring" (מָקוֹר מָשְׁחָת - maqor mashchat) both convey the idea of a vital water source being trampled, muddied, or spoiled. This strong imagery emphasizes the defilement and unreliability that result from the righteous person's failure.

Practical Application

Proverbs 25:26 serves as a powerful warning and a call to vigilance for all who seek to live righteously. It reminds us that:

  • Your Integrity Matters: As a person striving for righteousness, your moral standing is crucial. Compromise, especially in the face of wickedness or injustice, can have far-reaching negative consequences beyond yourself.
  • Stand Firm for Truth: The verse encourages believers to stand firm against evil and deception, rather than yielding to unrighteous pressure. When those who should be pure sources of truth become compromised, society suffers.
  • Guard Your Influence: If you are seen as a person of integrity or influence, your actions set a precedent. A stumble or compromise can erode trust and lead others astray, just as a polluted spring makes water undrinkable. Maintaining a consistent testimony is vital for spiritual health and for being a reliable guide to others, much like a tree planted by streams of water.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 34:18

    [Seemeth it] a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?

  • Ezekiel 34:19

    And [as for] my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.

  • 1 Samuel 22:14

    Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who [is so] faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

  • 1 Samuel 22:18

    And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

  • Matthew 23:34

    Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify; and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute [them] from city to city:

  • Matthew 23:37

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

  • Matthew 26:69

    ¶ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

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