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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Smith's Literal Translation
Naked rebuke is good above secret love.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Open rebuke is better than hidden love.

Catholic Public Domain Version
An open rebuke is better than hidden love.

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

New Revised Standard Version
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Open rebuke is better than deceitful friendship.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Public rebuke is better than secret love.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Open reproofs are better than secret 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
Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Galatians 2:11-14
When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. / For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. / The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. ...

Leviticus 19:17
You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him.

Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

2 Samuel 12:1-7
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. / The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, / but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him. ...

1 Timothy 5:20
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.

James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, / consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Psalm 141:5
Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.

Luke 17:3
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. / And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this? / Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. ...

Hebrews 12:5-6
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. / For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”

Revelation 3:19
Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

Ezekiel 3:18-19
If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. / But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.


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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Proverbs 27
1. observations of self love
5. of true love
11. of care to avoid offenses
23. and of the household care














Better an open rebuke
The phrase "better an open rebuke" suggests a preference for transparency and honesty in relationships. The Hebrew word for "rebuke" is "תּוֹכַחַת" (tokhachath), which implies correction or reproof. In the ancient Near Eastern context, public rebuke was a common practice for addressing wrongs and maintaining community standards. This phrase emphasizes the value of direct and honest communication, which is seen as more beneficial than hidden feelings. From a conservative Christian perspective, this aligns with the biblical principle of speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), where correction is given not to condemn but to restore and build up.

than love that is concealed
The contrast here is with "love that is concealed." The Hebrew word for "concealed" is "נִסְתָּר" (nistar), meaning hidden or secret. In biblical times, love was expected to be demonstrated through actions and words, not merely felt internally. Concealed love, therefore, lacks the tangible expression that is necessary for nurturing relationships. This phrase warns against the ineffectiveness of love that is not expressed openly. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this underscores the importance of living out one's faith through visible acts of love and kindness, as instructed in James 2:14-17, where faith without works is considered dead. The verse as a whole encourages believers to prioritize honest and loving interactions, fostering genuine community and spiritual growth.

(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)
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