Bible Strands
Proverbs 17:9
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The verse appears in the book of Proverbs as a standalone wisdom observation framed by two adjacent teachings on social influence. It functions as a direct instruction on managing interpersonal conflict within a community.
The words — The Hebrew מְֽכַסֶּה־ (me.kha.seh) means "[one who] conceals" and פֶּ֭שַׁע (Pe.sha') means "a transgression." The parallel term שֹׁנֶ֥ה (sho.Neh) means "[one who] repeats" or brings up a matter.
The thread — The concept of covering offenses appears in Proverbs 10:12 and 1 Peter 4:8, while the warning against dividing friends echoes Proverbs 16:28. These references consistently link concealing faults with preserving relationships and exposing them with fracturing community.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to actively withhold repeated grievances to maintain social cohesion. It demands the opposite behavior for those who habitually rehearse wrongs, showing that relational unity requires deliberate restraint.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
- Psalms 32:1 Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.