Proverbs - 18:12



12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Proverbs 18:12.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour is humility.
Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.
The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Before - In the sense of priority of time.

Before destruction - See on Proverbs 11:2 (note); Proverbs 16:18 (note).

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,.... Lifted up with his riches. Rich men are apt to be highminded, and therefore are to be charged and cautioned against it; they are apt to look above their poor neighbours, and with contempt upon them; and very often this haughtiness of theirs is a presage of their ruin and destruction: and those haughty airs are put on from the pride of their hearts, when a "breach" is near, as the word (u) signifies, or when they are ready to break; however, their haughty spirits are, sooner or later, humbled by one distressing providence or another; see Proverbs 16:18;
and before honour is humility; See Gill on Proverbs 15:33.
(u) "ante confractionem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schultens.

After the heart has been lifted up with pride, a fall comes. But honour shall be the reward of humility.

We place together Proverbs 18:12-19, in which the figure of a secure fortress returns:

This proverb is connected with the preceding of the rich man who trusts in his mammon.
Before destruction the heat of man is haughty;
And humility goeth before honour.
Line first is a variation of Proverbs 16:18, and line second is similar to Proverbs 15:33.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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