Proverbs 25:6
Proverbs 25:6 in Multiple Translations
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do not put yourself in the place of the great:
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men :
Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
When you stand in front of a king, do not try to ◄impress him/honor yourself► and do not ◄act like you are important/ask to sit where important people sit;►
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 25:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 25:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַל
תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר
לִ/פְנֵי
מֶ֑לֶךְ
וּ/בִ/מְק֥וֹם
גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים
אַֽל
תַּעֲמֹֽד
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר
hâdar
H1921
to honor
V-Hithpael-Juss-2ms
לִ/פְנֵי
pânîym
H6440
face
Prep | N-cp
מֶ֑לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
וּ/בִ/מְק֥וֹם
mâqôwm
H4725
place
Conj | Prep | N-ms
גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים
gâdôwl
H1419
Great (Sea)
Adj
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תַּעֲמֹֽד
ʻâmad
H5975
to stand
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 25:6
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר
hâdar
H1921
"to honor"
V-Hithpael-Juss-2ms
To honor means to show respect or admiration, like honoring God or someone in authority, as mentioned in Psalms and Proverbs.
Definition: 1) to honour, adorn, glorify, be high 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to swell 1a1a) swelling (pass participle) 1a2) to honour, pay honour to, show partiality 1a3) to adorn 1a3a) adorned (pass participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be honoured 1c) (Hithpael) to honour oneself, claim honour
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: countenance, crooked place, glorious, honour, put forth. See also: Exodus 23:3; Proverbs 25:6; Isaiah 45:2.
לִ/פְנֵי
pânîym
H6440
"face"
Prep | N-cp
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Definition: : face 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
Usage: Occurs in 1891 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 43:31; Exodus 30:16.
מֶ֑לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
וּ/בִ/מְק֥וֹם
mâqôwm
H4725
"place"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
Maqom means a place or location, like a city or a region. It can also refer to a condition of the body or mind. This term is used to describe a wide range of locations and situations.
Definition: 1) standing place, place 1a) standing place, station, post, office 1b) place, place of human abode 1c) city, land, region 1d) place, locality, spot 1e) space, room, distance 1f) region, quarter, direction 1g) give place to, instead of
Usage: Occurs in 379 OT verses. KJV: country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 1:9; Deuteronomy 12:3; 1 Kings 20:24.
גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים
gâdôwl
H1419
"Great (Sea)"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Definition: adj great Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)
Usage: Occurs in 499 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. See also: Genesis 1:16; Joshua 7:26; 1 Kings 20:13.
אַֽל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תַּעֲמֹֽד
ʻâmad
H5975
"to stand"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
Means 'to stand' in a strong sense, like in Exodus 17:12 where Moses stood with his arms up to help Israel win a battle.
Definition: : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against 1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to station, set 1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain 1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect 1b4) to present (one) before (king) 1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish 1c) (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before
Usage: Occurs in 497 OT verses. KJV: abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. See also: Genesis 18:8; Joshua 21:44; 1 Chronicles 6:17.
Study Notes — Proverbs 25:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 25:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 25:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 25:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 25:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 25:6
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 25:6
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 25:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 25:6
- Sermons on Proverbs 25:6
Context — More Proverbs of Solomon
4Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;
7for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes, 8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 27:2 | Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips. |
| 2 | Proverbs 25:27 | It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory. |
| 3 | Proverbs 16:19 | It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud. |
| 4 | Exodus 3:11 | But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” |
| 5 | Psalms 131:1 | My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me. |
| 6 | 1 Samuel 9:20–22 | As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?” Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?” Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all. |
| 7 | 2 Samuel 7:8–17 | Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land. And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you. And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way. Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.” So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision. |
| 8 | Amos 7:12–15 | And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.” “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ |
| 9 | 1 Samuel 15:17 | And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 18:18–23 | And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. “I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.” Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’” But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.” |
Proverbs 25:6 Summary
This verse is teaching us to be humble and respectful when we are around people who are important or in charge, like a king or a boss. It's saying that we should not try to make ourselves look better or more important than we really are, because that can lead to trouble and embarrassment, as seen in Proverbs 25:7. Instead, we should wait for others to recognize our value and invite us to come up higher, as taught in Proverbs 22:29 and Matthew 25:21. By being humble and patient, we can avoid problems and earn the respect of others, and this is a lesson that can be applied to many areas of our lives, including our relationships with others and our walk with God, as seen in Ephesians 4:2-3 and Colossians 3:12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to exalt oneself in the presence of a king?
To exalt oneself in the presence of a king means to proudly elevate one's own status or importance, often at the expense of others, as seen in Proverbs 25:6, which warns against such behavior in the presence of those in authority, similar to the humility taught in Proverbs 22:4.
Who are the 'great men' mentioned in this verse?
The 'great men' in Proverbs 25:6 refer to those in positions of power, influence, or prestige, such as leaders, nobles, or high-ranking officials, as seen in the context of the verse, which emphasizes the importance of humility in the presence of such individuals, similar to the teachings in Romans 13:1-7 on respecting authority.
How can we apply this verse to our everyday lives?
We can apply Proverbs 25:6 to our lives by being mindful of our behavior and attitude in the presence of those in authority, such as bosses, teachers, or community leaders, and instead of seeking to elevate ourselves, we should strive to be humble and respectful, as taught in Philippians 2:3-4 and Ephesians 6:5-7.
What is the consequence of not following this advice?
If we do not follow the advice in Proverbs 25:6 and instead seek to exalt ourselves in the presence of those in authority, we may face consequences such as embarrassment, demotion, or loss of respect, as warned in Proverbs 25:7, which emphasizes the importance of humility and patience in our interactions with others, similar to the teachings in Proverbs 15:33 and Matthew 23:12.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways do I seek to exalt myself in my daily interactions, and how can I cultivate humility instead?
- How can I balance the need to be confident and self-assured with the need to be humble and respectful in the presence of others?
- What are some specific situations in which I can apply the principles of Proverbs 25:6, such as in my workplace, school, or community?
- How can I use this verse to evaluate my motivations and actions, and make adjustments to become more humble and respectful?
- What does it mean to 'stand in the place of great men', and how can I avoid doing so in my own life?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 25:6
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king,.... Intrude not thyself into his presence; or rush not into it in a rude and irreverent way; or be not ambitious to be a courtier: or "do not appear
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 25:6
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 25:6
Put not forth thyself, Heb. Do not magnify or glorify thyself, by vaunting speech or carriage, but, which is implied, carry thyself humbly and modestly, which is most pleasing to kings, and most becoming and safe for them. Stand not in the place of great men; do not affect nor use frequent and familiar society with greater persons than thyself, whereby thou mayst easily involve thyself in much guilt, and expose thyself to envy or contempt, and to many other inconveniences.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 25:6
Proverbs 25:6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:Ver. 6. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king.] Ne te ornes coram reqe. Compare not, vie not with him in apparel, furniture, house keeping, &c., as the Hebrews sense it. This was the ruin of Cardinal Wolsey, and of Viscount Verulam. And stand not in the place of great men.] Exalt not thyself, but wait till God shall reach out the hand from heaven and raise thee. Adonijah is branded for this, that he exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." When none else would lift Hildebrand up into Peter’ s chair, he got up himself: ‘ for who,’ said he, ‘ can better judge of my worth than I can?’ ‘ Harden thy forehead,’ said Calvus to Vatinius, ‘ and say boldly, that thou deservest the praetorship better than Cato.’ Ambition rides without reins, as Tullia did over the dead body of her own father, to be made a queen. See my Common Place of Ambition. Quintil., lib. ix. cap. 2.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 25:6
6. Put not forth thyself] Better, Put not thyself forward, R.V.; Heb., Glorify not thyself; μὴἀλαζονεύου, LXX.; ne gloriosus appareas, Vulg.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 25:6
The pushing, boastful temper is, in the long run, suicidal. It is wiser as well as nobler to take the lower place at first in humility, than to take it afterward with shame.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 25:6
6, 7. Put not forth thyself — The meaning is, “Do not bear thyself proudly.” — Conant. Do not make a display. “Spread not thyself” (Miller) before the king, to attract his attention, nor intrude among those of high rank.
Sermons on Proverbs 25:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Leadership Manual by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of delegation in leadership. They highlight that true leadership cannot exist without delegating tasks to others. The speaker |
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Step 22 on the Many Forms of Vainglory by St. John Climacus | St. John Climacus preaches about the dangers of vainglory, highlighting how it leads to pride and the importance of conquering it to avoid falling into the trap of seeking praise f |
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Pharisees Seek Honour From Men by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on the danger of seeking honor from people, drawing from Jesus' teachings on the Pharisees who prayed publicly to be noticed by others. He emphasizes the import |
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Pharisees Boast About Their Accomplishments by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the danger of boasting about our accomplishments in the name of the Lord, drawing from the example of the Pharisees who glorified themselves rather than God. |
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Having a Humble Opinion of Self by Thomas a Kempis | Thomas a Kempis emphasizes the importance of humility, fearing God, and serving Him rather than seeking knowledge for the sake of pride. He warns against the vanity of intellectual |
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John Berridge by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot reflects on the remarkable period of the 18th century where ministers like Whitefield, Toplady, Berridge, Newton, Romaine, Huntington, and Hawker preached the same gos |
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Things That Please God by Clement of Rome | Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of living a holy life, avoiding evil behaviors such as gossip, impurity, drunkenness, and pride. He encourages humility, self-control, and |