Proverbs 25 · Verse 12

Proverbs 25:12

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Proverbs 25:12, King James Version

Proverbs 25:12 in other translations

BSBLike an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
WEBAs an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
ASVAs an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
YLTA ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, Is the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
DARBYAn ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover upon an attentive ear.
BBELike a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best gold, is a wise man who says sharp words to an ear ready to give attention.
WebsterAs an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

What does Proverbs 25:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Those who desire to know and do rightly, most highly esteem good counsel (Pr 9:9; 15:31). The listening ear is better than one hung with gold.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 As an ear-ring of gold - I believe נזם nezem to mean the nose-ring with its pendants; the left nostril is pierced, and a ring put through it, as in the ear. This is very common in almost every part of the East, among women of condition. This is a farther illustration of the above metaphor.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 25:11-12

A word of counsel, or reproof, rightly spoken, is especially beautiful, as fine fruit becomes still more beautiful in silver baskets.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 25:11-12 →

Proverbs 25:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

נֶ֣זֶםNe.zeman earring ofH5141
זָ֭הָבza.hogoldH2091
וַחֲלִי\־va.cha.li-and an ornament ofH2481
כָ֑תֶםKha.tempure goldH3800
מוֹכִ֥יחַmo.Khi.ach[one who] reprovesH3198
חָ֝כָ֗םcha.KhamwiseH2450
עַל\־'al-onH5921
אֹ֥זֶן'O.zenan earH241
שֹׁמָֽעַת\׃sho.Ma.'atlisteningH8085

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 25:12

  • Psalms 141:5

    Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

  • Proverbs 15:31-32

    The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

  • Proverbs 9:8

    Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

  • Proverbs 27:5-6

    Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

  • Proverbs 15:5

    A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

  • 1 Samuel 25:31-34

    That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

  • Job 42:11

    Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

  • Proverbs 1:8-9

    My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

  • Proverbs 20:12

    The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
an ear-ring.
Job 42:11
a wise.
1:8,9; 9:8; 15:5,31,32; 27:5,6; 1Sa 25:31-34; Ps 141:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 25:11

    A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

  • Proverbs 25:12

    As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

  • Proverbs 25:13

    As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Read all of Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Como zarcillo de oro y joyel de oro fino, es el que reprende al sabio que tiene oído dócil.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Un anneau d’or et un joyau d’or fin, tel est, pour l’oreille qui écoute, celui qui reprend sagement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein goldener Ohrring und ein Halsgeschmeide von feinem Golde: so ist ein weiser Tadler für ein hörendes Ohr.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Inauris aurea, et margaritum fulgens, qui arguit sapientem et aurem obedientem.