The Meaning of Proverbs 20:19 Explained

Proverbs 20:19

KJV: He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

YLT: A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver with his lips make not thyself surety.

Darby: He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.

ASV: He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that goeth about  [as] a talebearer  revealeth  secrets:  therefore meddle  not with him that flattereth  with his lips. 

What does Proverbs 20:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 20:16-30 - "the Glory Of Young Men"
What a wonderful thought is given in Proverbs 20:27! We stand like a row of unlighted candles until God's Spirit kindles us. Has the Divine Nature ever bent over your nature, communicating to it its glow and fire? If so, be very careful that no puff of wind shall extinguish that sacred spark; and see that it is supplied with the daily nutriment it requires. The whole paragraph seems to indicate the clear shining of this light, which must not be hidden under a bushel, but placed on the stand, that it may give light to all who come in. So let your light shine that men may admire neither the lamp-stand nor the wick, but the glory of the light of God radiating from you.
Such a soul will be true, Proverbs 20:17; will be wise, Proverbs 20:18; will eschew tale-bearing and flattery, Proverbs 20:19; will honor the parents that gave it birth, Proverbs 20:20; will win a good inheritance by patient industry, Proverbs 20:21; will wait on the salvation of God, Proverbs 20:22; will accept God's guidance, Proverbs 20:24; will follow mercy and truth, Proverbs 20:28; will be strong, and pure, and faithful. Such should be the glory of all young men and maidens if their old age shall be beautiful, Proverbs 20:29. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 20

1  Proper Living

What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:19 mean?

Reveals secrets He who goes about [as] a talebearer therefore with one who flatters with his lips not do associate
גּֽוֹלֶה־ סּ֭וֹד הוֹלֵ֣ךְ רָכִ֑יל וּלְפֹתֶ֥ה שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִתְעָרָֽב

גּֽוֹלֶה־  Reveals 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
סּ֭וֹד  secrets 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סׄוד  
Sense: council, counsel, assembly.
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ  He  who  goes  about 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
רָכִ֑יל  [as]  a  talebearer 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָכִיל  
Sense: slander, slanderer, tale bearer, informer.
וּלְפֹתֶ֥ה  therefore  with  one  who  flatters 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּתָה 
Sense: to be spacious, be open, be wide.
שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו  with  his  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
תִתְעָרָֽב  do  associate 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָרַב 
Sense: to pledge, exchange, mortgage, engage, occupy, undertake for, give pledges, be or become surety, take on pledge, give in pledge.