Proverbs 27 · Verse 4

Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Proverbs 27:4, King James Version

Proverbs 27:4 in other translations

BSBWrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
WEBWrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
ASVWrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
YLTFury is fierce, and anger is overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?
DARBYFury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
BBEWrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?
WebsterWrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

What does Proverbs 27:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. envy--or, "jealousy" (compare Margin; Pr 6:34), is more unappeasable than the simpler bad passions.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Who is able to stand before envy? - The rabbins have a curious story on this subject, and it has been formed by the moderns into a fable. There were two persons, one covetous and the other envious, to whom a certain person promised to grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. The covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion, and the envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear the thoughts of thus benefiting his neighbor. However, at last he requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that his neighbor might lose both.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 27:3-4

Those who have no command of their passions, sink under the load.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 27:3-4 →

Proverbs 27:4 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.

אַכְזְרִיּ֣וּת'akh.ze.ri.Yut[the] cruelty ofH395
חֵ֭מָהChe.mahrageH2534
וְשֶׁ֣טֶףve.She.tefand [the] flood ofH7858
אָ֑ף'AfangerH639
וּמִ֥יu.Miand who?H4310
יַ֝עֲמֹדYa.'a.modwill he standH5975
לִפְנֵ֥יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
קִנְאָֽה\׃kin.'AhjealousyH7068

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

Cross references for Proverbs 27:4

  • Proverbs 6:34

    For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

  • Proverbs 14:30

    A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

  • James 3:14-16

    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

  • Job 5:2

    For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

  • Matthew 27:18

    For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

  • Acts 7:9

    And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • James 1:19-21

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

  • James 4:5-6

    Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

  • Song of Solomon 8:6

    Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

  • Genesis 37:11

    And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

  • Genesis 26:14

    For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cruel, and anger is outrageous. Heb. cruelty, and anger anoverflowing.
Jas 1:19-21
but.
14:30; Ge 26:14; 37:11; Job 5:2; Mt 27:18; Ac 5:17; *marg:
Ac 7:9; 17:5; Ro 1:29; Jas 3:14-16; 4:5,6; 1Jo 3:12
envy. or, jealousy.
6:34; So 8:6

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

Context

  • Proverbs 27:3

    A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

  • Proverbs 27:4

    Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

  • Proverbs 27:5

    Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Read all of Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cruel es la ira, é impetuoso el furor; mas ¿quién parará delante de la envidia?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La fureur est cruelle et la colère déborde, mais qui subsistera devant la jalousie?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Grimm ist grausam, und Zorn eine überströmende Flut; wer aber kann bestehen vor der Eifersucht!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ira non habet misericordiam nec erumpens furor, et impetum concitati ferre quis poterit?