Proverbs 27:5
New International Version
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

New Living Translation
An open rebuke is better than hidden love!

English Standard Version
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Berean Standard Bible
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

King James Bible
Open rebuke is better than secret love.

New King James Version
Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.

New American Standard Bible
Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.

NASB 1995
Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.

NASB 1977
Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.

Legacy Standard Bible
Better is reproof that is revealed Than love that is hidden.

Amplified Bible
Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction] Than love that is hidden.

Christian Standard Bible
Better an open reprimand than concealed love.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better an open reprimand than concealed love.

American Standard Version
Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Public rebuke is better than secret love.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Open reproofs are better than secret love.

Contemporary English Version
A truly good friend will openly correct you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Open rebuke is better than hidden love.

English Revised Version
Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Open criticism is better than unexpressed love.

Good News Translation
Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.

International Standard Version
An open rebuke is better than unspoken love.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.

Literal Standard Version
Better [is] open reproof than hidden love.

Majority Standard Bible
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

New American Bible
Better is an open rebuke than a love that remains hidden.

NET Bible
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

New Revised Standard Version
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

New Heart English Bible
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Webster's Bible Translation
Open rebuke is better than secret love.

World English Bible
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Young's Literal Translation
Better is open reproof than hidden love.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do not Boast about Tomorrow
4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy? 5Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.…

Cross References
Galatians 2:14
When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

Proverbs 28:23
He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.


Treasury of Scripture

Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Proverbs 28:23
He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Leviticus 19:17
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Matthew 18:15
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

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Better Concealed Hidden Kept Love Open Protest Rebuke Reproof Secret
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Better Concealed Hidden Kept Love Open Protest Rebuke Reproof Secret
Proverbs 27
1. observations of self love
5. of true love
11. of care to avoid offenses
23. and of the household care














(5) Secret love--i.e., that never discloses itself in acts of kindness, not even in "open rebuke" when such is needed.

Verse 5. - Open rebuke is better than secret love. Love that is hidden and never discloses itself in acts of self-denial or generosity, especially that which from fear of offending does not rebuke a friend, nor speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), when there is good reason for such openness - such disguised love is worse, more objectionable, less beneficial, than the plain speaking which bravely censures a fault, and dares to correct what is wrong by well-timed blame. To hold back blame, it has been said, is to hold back love. "I love not my friend," wrote Seneca ('Ep.,' 25), "if I do not offend him." Plautus, 'Trinum.,' 1:2, 57 -

"Sed tu ex amicis certis mi es certissimus.

Si quid scis me fecisse inscite aut improbe,
Si id non me accusas, tu ipse objurgandus."
Publ. Syr., 'Sent.,' 16, "Amici vitia si feras, facis tua," which Erasmus expounds by adding, "If you take no notice of your friend's faults, they will be imputed to you." Cicero ('De Amicit.,' 24, 25) has some sensible remarks on this subject: "When a man's ears are shut against the truth, so that he cannot hear the truth from a friend, the welfare of such a one is hopeless. Shrewd is the observation of Cato, that some are better served by bitter enemies than by friends who seem to be agreeable; for the former often speak the truth, the latter never.... As therefore both to give and receive advice is the characteristic of true friendship, and that the one should act with freedom, but not harshly, and that the other should accept remonstrance patiently and without resistance, so it should be considered that there is no deadlier bane to friendship than adulation, fawning, and flattery."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Better
ט֭וֹבָה‪‬ (ṭō·w·ḇāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

an open
מְגֻלָּ֑ה (mə·ḡul·lāh)
Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

rebuke
תּוֹכַ֣חַת (tō·w·ḵa·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8433: Chastisement, correction, refutation, proof

than love
מֵֽאַהֲבָ֥ה (mê·’a·hă·ḇāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 160: Love (noun)

that is concealed.
מְסֻתָּֽרֶת׃ (mə·sut·tā·reṯ)
Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 27:5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 27:4
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