What Does Proverbs 25:9 Mean in the King James?
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse separates bringing a dispute into the open with your neighbor from exposing a confidence to someone else.
THE MEANING
The dispute is addressed directly with the person involved, while a secret remains covered from someone outside that exchange. “Discover” carries the image of uncovering, so the verse distinguishes voicing a case from exposing private knowledge. Direct address and confidentiality belong together here.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that being right gives you permission to expose what someone has trusted you with.
THE ROOT
תְּגַל
tegal
GROWS FROM
גלה
g-l-h
To uncover or reveal; to make what is hidden visible.
The word translated “discover” carries the physical image of uncovering. The verse permits the dispute to be spoken directly while drawing a boundary around what should not be exposed to another person.
ALSO GROWS
galah: Uncover, reveal
גָּלָה
This is the same uncovering action behind “discover,” making disclosure more vivid than simply passing along information.
galui: Exposed, visible
גָּלוּי
A confidence that is disclosed becomes exposed, which clarifies what the verse asks the reader to keep covered.
סוֹד
sod
GROWS FROM
סוד
s-w-d
Confidential counsel or a close council; by extension, a confidence held within that circle.
The word for a secret also carries the sense of counsel held among trusted people. The verse frames disclosure as carrying something entrusted in one relationship beyond its proper circle.
ALSO GROWS
Confidential counsel: Private deliberation held in trust
This sense shows that the secret is relational: it belongs to a confidence shared with someone.
Council: A close circle sharing counsel
This sense makes the boundary concrete: disclosure carries what is held within one circle into another.
רִיבְךָ רִיב
rivkha riv
GROWS FROM
ריב
r-y-b
To contend, dispute, or present a case.
“debate thy cause” in this verse is rivkha riv. The Hebrew repeats the root in “your dispute, dispute,” tying the matter itself to the act of addressing it. The case is brought to the neighbor directly, rather than being turned into public exposure.
ALSO GROWS
riv: Dispute, case, contention
רִיב
The word can name both a conflict and a case to be addressed, matching the verse’s focus on speaking with the person involved.
merivah: Quarrel, contention
מְרִיבָה
This related form keeps the conflict in the space between the people involved, where the verse places its direct exchange.
THE PATTERN
Conflict is addressed directly with the person involved, while private matters remain within the confidence entrusted to them.
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.THE THREAD
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.The verb translated “revealeth” here shares the root גלה (galah, to uncover or reveal) with “discover” in Proverbs 25:9. The shared word pictures a confidence being uncovered; this verse sets that exposure beside concealment and makes the boundary clearer.
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