Bible Strands
Proverbs 25:9
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses a reader managing a personal dispute, placing this instruction immediately after a warning against hastily bringing a neighbor to court.
The words — רִֽ֭יבְ/ךָ (ri.ve./kha) means “your case,” and סוֹד (sod) translates to “secret” or “confidence,” anchoring the verse in both legal advocacy and private trust.
The thread — This directive against exposing private matters in conflict runs parallel to Proverbs 11:13 and Proverbs 20:19, which both contrast those who reveal secrets with those who preserve confidence.
Why it lands — The text commands direct dispute resolution while explicitly forbidding the disclosure of another’s private trust, requiring readers to separate legitimate legal claims from confidential information.
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
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Cross-references
- Proverbs 11:13 A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
- Matthew 18:5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
- Proverbs 20:19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.