Proverbs 26:23

¶ Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Burning {H1814} lips {H8193} and a wicked {H7451} heart {H3820} are like a potsherd {H2789} covered {H6823} with silver {H3701} dross {H5509}.

Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

Fervent lips and a wicked heart Arelikean earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

Context

Proverbs 26 is a chapter rich with warnings against various forms of foolishness, including the dangers of deceitful speech, hypocrisy, and hidden malice. This particular verse fits squarely within a section (Proverbs 26:20-28) that addresses those who sow discord, harbor hatred, and use their words to conceal wicked intentions. The book of Proverbs, as a whole, aims to impart wisdom and understanding, often contrasting the upright path with the way of the fool and the wicked, urging readers to discern truth from falsehood.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and Deception: The central message of Proverbs 26:23 is the stark contrast between outward appearance and inner reality. "Burning lips" suggest passionate, fervent, or even eloquent speech that might appear sincere or loving, while a "wicked heart" reveals the true, corrupt motive beneath. This highlights the danger of words that do not align with genuine intent.
  • Inner vs. Outer Reality: The proverb emphasizes that true character resides in the heart, not merely in verbal expressions. Just as a broken piece of pottery (a "potsherd") is worthless even if superficially coated with shiny but impure "silver dross," so too are eloquent words meaningless or even harmful when they mask a deceitful or malicious heart.
  • Discernment: The verse implicitly calls for listeners to exercise spiritual and practical discernment, encouraging them to look beyond charming words and evaluate the true nature of a person's character and motives. This wisdom is crucial for avoiding manipulation and building genuine relationships.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "burning lips" (Hebrew: serefath sephathayim) can denote intense, fervent, or passionate speech, sometimes implying words that are hot with emotion, flattery, or even malice. The imagery of a "potsherd" (Hebrew: cheres) refers to a broken, worthless piece of earthenware. "Silver dross" (Hebrew: sigim kesef) is the impurity or waste product that rises to the surface during the refining of silver. It may have a superficial shine, but it holds no value and is discarded. This vivid comparison powerfully illustrates the worthlessness of a deceptive outward show covering an evil inner disposition.

Related Scriptures

This proverb powerfully condemns hypocrisy, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. Jesus Himself warned against those who honor God with their lips but whose heart is far from Him, emphasizing the importance of inner truth over outward show. Similarly, the Bible frequently stresses the significance of the heart's condition, as it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). The danger of deceptive speech is also a recurring theme in Proverbs, warning against lying lips that hide hatred (Proverbs 10:18) and the deceit of a person who flatters with their mouth while harboring hatred in their heart (Proverbs 26:24), the very next verse in this chapter.

Practical Application

Proverbs 26:23 offers vital lessons for both speakers and listeners today. For the speaker, it serves as a powerful reminder to cultivate integrity, ensuring that our words genuinely reflect our inner character and intentions. We are called to speak truth in love, avoiding flattery, manipulation, or insincere expressions that mask ill will. For the listener, the verse encourages healthy skepticism and spiritual discernment. We should not be easily swayed by smooth talk or seemingly pious words alone. Instead, we are to observe actions, seek to understand true motives, and pray for wisdom to see beyond superficial appearances. Genuine relationships, whether personal or professional, are built on sincerity and truth, not on deceptive charm.

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.

  • Luke 22:47

    ¶ And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

  • Luke 22:48

    But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

  • Luke 11:39

    And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

  • Proverbs 10:18

    ¶ He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool.

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • Proverbs 25:4

    ¶ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

  • Matthew 23:27

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.

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