Proverbs 25 · Verse 13

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.

Proverbs 25:13, King James Version

Proverbs 25:13 in other translations

BSB	Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
WEB	As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him; for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
ASV	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.
YLT	As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, So is a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
DARBY	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.
BBE	As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so is a true servant to those who send him; for he gives new life to the soul of his master.
Webster	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.

What does Proverbs 25:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. Snow from mountains was used to cool drinks; so refreshing is a faithful messenger (Pr 13:17).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 As the cold of snow - That snow was frequent in Judea, is well known; and that in the East they have snow-houses - places dug under ground, where they lay up snow for summer use - is also a fact. By means of the mass of snow desposited in them the icy temperature is kept up, so that the snow is easily preserved. The common method of cooling their wine, which is as easy as it is effectual, is by dipping a cloth in water, wrapping it round the bottle, and then hanging the bottle in the heat of the sun. The strong evaporation carries off the caloric from the wine, and the repetition of the wet cloth in the same exposure, makes the wine almost as cold as ice. How agreeable this must be in a burning climate, may be easily conceived. Perhaps it is this to which the wise man refers; for it is a fact that they could have no snow in harvest unless such as had been preserved as mentioned above; but this could be only in a few places, and within the reach of a very few persons. But cooling their liquors by the simple mode of evaporation already explained, was within the reach even of the laborers in the harvest field. I think the text favors this supposition; for כצנת שלג ketsinnerth sheleg, need not be referred to snow itself procuring cold, but to a coldness like that of snow, procured by evaporation. If this interpretation be allowed, all difficulty will be removed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

See what ought to be the aim of him that is trusted with any business; to be faithful. A faithful minister, Christ's messenger, should be thus acceptable to us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 25:13 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.

כְּצִנַּת\־ke.tzi.nat-[is] like [the] cold ofH6793

שֶׁ֨לֶג\׀She.legsnowH7950

בְּי֬וֹםbe.Yomon a day ofH3117

קָצִ֗ירka.TzirharvestH7105

צִ֣ירtziran envoyH6735

נֶ֭אֱמָןNe.'e.monfaithfulH539

לְשֹׁלְחָ֑יוle.sho.le.Chavto [those who] sent himH7971

וְנֶ֖פֶשׁve.Ne.feshand [the] life ofH5315

אֲדֹנָ֣יו'a.do.Navmasters hisH113

יָשִֽׁיב\׃\ \פya.Shivhe will restoreH7725

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

Cross references for Proverbs 25:13

Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Proverbs 25:25
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Philippians 2:25-30
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. …
Proverbs 26:6
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

25; 13:17; 26:6; Php 2:25-30

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

Context

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.
Proverbs 25:14
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Read all of Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Como frío de nieve en tiempo de la siega, así es el mensajero fiel á los que lo envían: pues al alma de su señor da refrigerio.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	La fraîcheur de la neige au temps de la moisson, tel est le messager fidèle pour ceux qui l’envoient: il restaure l’âme de son maître.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wie Kühlung des Schnees an einem Erntetage ist ein treuer Bote denen, die ihn senden: er erquickt die Seele seines Herrn.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sicut frigus nivis in die messis, ita legatus fidelis ei qui misit eum: animam ipsius requiescere facit.