Proverbs 25:23 Commentary and Bible Study

Two different translations of the verb in this verse produce opposite meanings. It is either rendered ‘brings forth’ or by the KJV ‘driveth away’. The word means literally to dance or to writhe and is used of the birth pains of a mother in labour. When translated ‘brings forth’ the sense of the verse is that as wind from the north brings rain, so a backbiting tongue, the tongue of a gossip, produces an angry response in those it is directed against, presumably because they do not like gossip. The trouble is that it is very common to welcome gossip and the carnal mind has no such repugnance towards it. There is very little force to this meaning and it is also at odds with the generally recognized fact that the north wind brought dryness not rain. Job 37:22 says that fair weather comes from the north. This was probably because the winds from the north drove away the south winds that tended to bring rain.However, the translation ‘drives away’ has a strong meaning attached to it. What the backbiter or gossip is looking for is a sympathetic response, and what discourages them greatly is to meet with any form of rebuke. Tittle-tattle is intended to be a sugar coated word that is easily received by the ear. It may be delivered in a whisper to indicate to the hearer the privileged position they are being placed in to receive such secret information. But when the gossip meets with a firm rejection of his or her merchandise and an angry countenance, his suppressed conscience awakens and witnesses against him. It only takes a little for a suppressed conscience to come to life, for it is held down with difficulty. That anger represents to the gossip the anger of God which he knows he must face at the last day. He knows he is not going to find a receptive ear here. What is inappropriate here is taught by its opposite: it is inappropriate to receive reports of a gossip in a friendly way.