Keil and Delitzsch Commentary - Proverbs 16:28 - 16:28

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Keil and Delitzsch Commentary - Proverbs 16:28 - 16:28


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

28 A man of falsehood scattereth strife,

And a backbiter separateth confidential friends.

Regarding תַּהְפֻּכוֹת (מדבר) אִישׁ, vid., Pro 2:12, and מָדוֹן יְשַׁלַּח, Pro 6:14; the thought of 28b is found at Pro 6:19. נִרְגָּֽן (with ן minusculum, which occurs thrice with the terminal Nun) is a Niphal formation from רָגַן, to murmur (cf. נָזִיד, from זִיד), and denotes the whisperer, viz., the backbiter, ψίθυρος, Sir. 5:14, ψιθυριστής, susurro; the Arab. nyrj is abbreviated from it, a verbal stem of נָרַג (cf. Aram. norgo, an axe, Arab. naurag, a threshing-sledge = מוֹרַג) cannot be proved. Aquila is right in translating by τονθρυστής, and Theodotion by γόγγυσος, from רָגַן, Hiph. נִרְגַּן, γογγύζειν. Regarding אַלּוּף, confidential friend, vid., p. 82; the sing., as Pro 18:9, is used in view of the mutual relationship, and מַפְרִיד proceeds on the separation of the one, and, at the same time, of the other from it. Luther, in translating by “a slanderer makes princes disagree,” is in error, for אַלּוּף, φύλαρχος, is not a generic word for prince.