Proverbs 17:7

With the Hebrew beneath

Proverbs 17:7, word by word

A lipשְׂפַתsefat

lip

The part of the mouth with which one speaks, and so what one says.

Where else “sefat” appears

of excellenceיֶתֶרyeter

excellence

What stands out above the rest, the best.

Where else “yeter” appears

fittingנָאוָהnava

fitting

What suits someone, what fits him.

Where else “nava” appears

for a foolנָבָלnaval

foolish, fool

Foolish, a fool: not one who knows little, but one who lives without regard for God.

Where else “naval” appears

for a nobleנָדִיבnadiv

noble

A man of rank who governs or decides; the prince of a people.

Where else “nadiv” appears

of falsehoodשָׁקֶרshaker

lie

What is said against the truth in order to deceive, even before a judge.

Where else “shaker” appears

Translation note

“Fool”: in Hebrew, nabal (as in Psalm 14:1), one who lives as if God did not matter; it is a different word from the one translated “fool” in the rest of Proverbs.

The context