Proverbs 26:19

so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The text presents a wisdom saying that follows the image of a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows. It addresses a person who harms another verbally but attempts to evade accountability by claiming the harm was merely jest.

The words — The Hebrew רִמָּ֣ה (ri.Mah) denotes active deception, while מְשַׂחֵ֥ק (me.sa.Chek) literally means jesting or playing. The phrase הֲֽלֹא מְשַׂחֵק (ha-lo me.sa.Chek) functions as a rhetorical question translating to "was it not jest?"

The thread — The theme of harmful joking appears in Ephesians 5:4, which forbids crude joking as out of character, and Proverbs 14:9, which notes that fools mock the making of amends. Proverbs 10:23 further links foolish delight in shameful conduct to a lack of understanding.

Why it lands — The verse demands that readers recognize verbal deception as genuine harm rather than dismissing it as harmless play. It requires taking responsibility for the damage caused by words and rejecting excuses that minimize that damage.

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

כֵּֽן־ken-so אִ֭ישׁ'isha person רִמָּ֣הri.Mah[who] he deceives אֶת־'et-<obj.>רֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E./huneighbor/ his וְ֝אָמַ֗רve./'a.Marand/ he says הֲֽלֹא־ha/lo'-¿/ not מְשַׂחֵ֥קme.sa.Chekjesting אָֽנִי׃'A.ni[was] I

King James Version

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Cross-references

Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
Proverbs 10:23 The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
2 Peter 2:13 The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.