The Meaning of Proverbs 11:13 Explained

Proverbs 11:13

KJV: A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

YLT: A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.

Darby: He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

ASV: He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A talebearer  revealeth  secrets:  but he that is of a faithful  spirit  concealeth  the matter. 

What does Proverbs 11:13 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 11

1  On Deception

What do the individual words in Proverbs 11:13 mean?

A talebearer talebearer reveals secrets but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ רָ֭כִיל מְגַלֶּה־ סּ֑וֹד וְנֶאֱמַן־ ר֝֗וּחַ מְכַסֶּ֥ה דָבָֽר

הוֹלֵ֣ךְ  A  talebearer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
רָ֭כִיל  talebearer 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָכִיל  
Sense: slander, slanderer, tale bearer, informer.
מְגַלֶּה־  reveals 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
סּ֑וֹד  secrets 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סׄוד  
Sense: council, counsel, assembly.
וְנֶאֱמַן־  but  he  who  is  of  a  faithful 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
ר֝֗וּחַ  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
מְכַסֶּ֥ה  conceals 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
דָבָֽר  a  matter 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.