Bible Strands
Proverbs 25:23
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The immediate context places this proverb between instructions to respond to enemies with kindness (25:22) and a warning about domestic strife (25:24). It functions as a standalone wisdom saying contrasting a natural weather pattern with human speech.
The words — The Hebrew צָפוֹן (Tza.fon) denotes the north, paired with תְּחֹלֵל (te.holel) for "brings forth," while סָתֶר (sa.ter) literally means "secrecy" or "hiddenness," describing the nature of the backbiting tongue.
The thread — The motif of harmful speech appears in Proverbs 26:20, which notes that gossip fuels conflict, and in Psalm 15:3, which lists the absence of slander as a mark of righteous conduct. The geographic reference to the north aligns with Job 37:22’s description of God emerging from that direction in splendor.
Why it lands — The text states that a tongue engaged in secrecy or backbiting produces visible anger in others, drawing a direct causal link between hidden words and open hostility. It asks the reader to recognize gossip as a predictable catalyst for conflict rather than a harmless activity.
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
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 26:20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
- Job 37:22 Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
- Psalms 15:3 who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
- Romans 1:30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
- Psalms 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.