Proverbs 25 · Verse 20

Proverbs 25:20

As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
Proverbs 25:20, King James Version

Proverbs 25:20 in other translations

BSBLike one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
WEBAs one who takes away a garment in cold weather, or vinegar on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
ASVAs one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
YLTWhoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, Is as vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
DARBYAs he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.
BBELike one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.
WebsterAs he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

What does Proverbs 25:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Not only is the incongruity of songs (that is, joyful) and sadness meant, but an accession of sadness, by want of sympathy, is implied.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 As vinegar upon nitre - The original word נתר nather is what is known among chemists as the natron of the ancients and of the Scriptures, and carbonate of soda. It is found native in Syria and India, and occurs as an efflorescence on the soil. In Tripoli it is found in crystalline incrustations of from one third to half an inch thiek. It is found also in solution in the water of some lakes in Egypt and Hungary. The borders of these lakes are covered with crystalline masses, of a grayish white or light brown color; and in some specimens the natron is nearly pure carbonate of soda, and the carbonate is easily discovered by effervescing with an acid. It appears to have its Hebrew name from נתר nathar, to dissolve or loosen: because a solution of it in water is abstersive, taking out spots, etc. It is used in the East for the purposes of washing. If vinegar be poured on it, Dr. Shaw says a strong fermentation immediately takes place, which illustrates what Solomon says here: "The singing of songs to a heavy heart is like vinegar upon natron:" that is, "there is no affinity between them; and opposition, colluctation, and strife, are occasioned by any attempt to unite them." And poureth vyneper upon chalke - Coverdale. This also will occasion an effervescence. See Jer 2:22.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
We take a wrong course if we think to relieve those in sorrow by endeavouring to make them merry.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 25:20 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.

מַ֥עֲדֶהMa.'a.deh[one who] removesH5710
בֶּ֨גֶד\׀Be.geda garmentH899
בְּי֣וֹםbe.Yomon a day ofH3117
קָ֭רָהKa.rahcoldnessH7135
חֹ֣מֶץCho.metzvinegarH2558
עַל\־'al-onH5921
נָ֑תֶרNa.tersodaH5427
וְשָׁ֥רve.Sharand [one who] singsH7891
בַּ֝שִּׁרִ֗יםba.shi.Rim<with> the songsH7892
עַ֣ל'altoH5921
לֶב\־lev-a heartH3820
רָֽע\׃\ \פRa'sadH7451

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

Cross references for Proverbs 25:20

  • Romans 12:15

    Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:4

    A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

  • James 2:15-16

    If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

  • Proverbs 10:26

    As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

  • Deuteronomy 24:12-17

    And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. …

  • Isaiah 58:7

    Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

  • James 5:15

    And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

  • Daniel 6:18

    Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

  • Psalms 137:3-4

    For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?

  • Job 24:7-10

    They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that taketh.
De 24:12-17; Job 24:7-10; Isa 58:7; Jas 2:15,16
vinegar.
10:26
so.
Ps 137:3,4; Ec 3:4; Da 6:18; Ro 12:15; Jas 5:15

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

Context

  • Proverbs 25:19

    Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

  • Proverbs 25:20

    As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

  • Proverbs 25:21

    If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

Read all of Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que canta canciones al corazón afligido, es como el que quita la ropa en tiempo de frío, ó el que sobre el jabón echa vinagre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Comme celui qui ôte son vêtement en un jour de froid, comme du vinaigre sur le nitre, tel est celui qui chante des chansons à un cœur affligé.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Einer, der das Oberkleid ablegt am Tage der Kälte, Essig auf Natron: so, wer einem traurigen Herzen Lieder singt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno, ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.