Proverbs 25:7

for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The author of Proverbs 25 addresses court officials and petitioners navigating proximity to royal authority, advising them on proper conduct when seeking an audience with a king or noble.

The words — טוֹב (tov) translates literally as "better," functioning as a comparative adjective, while שְׁפִילְךָ (shpilcha) means "to set you low" or "demote you."

The thread — The principle of divine reversal runs through Jesus’ observation of guests selecting places of honor and his subsequent parable (Luke 14:7), his declaration that the humble man went home justified rather than the exalted one (Luke 18:14), and Peter’s instruction to clothe themselves with humility toward elders (1 Peter 5:5).

Why it lands — The text states that accepting a commanded elevation is preferable to being publicly lowered by a ruler, even if one has witnessed greater events. It requires the reader to submit personal ambition to external authority and reject self-promotion.

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

כִּ֤יkifor ט֥וֹבTov[is] better אֲמָר־'a.mor-to sayלְךָ֗le./Khato/ youעֲֽלֵ֫ה'aLehcome up הֵ֥נָּהHe.nahhere מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָme./hash.Pi.le./khathan/ to set low/ you לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before נָדִ֑יבna.Diva noble [person]אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sherwhom רָא֣וּra.'Uthey have seen עֵינֶֽיךָ׃'ei.Nei./khaeyes/ your

King James Version

For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Cross-references

Luke 14:7 When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”
Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.