The Meaning of Proverbs 24:26 Explained

Proverbs 24:26

KJV: Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

YLT: Lips he kisseth who is returning straightforward words.

Darby: He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.

ASV: He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Every man] shall kiss  [his] lips  that giveth  a right  answer. 

What does Proverbs 24:26 Mean?

Verse Meaning

One paraphrase of this verse is as follows: "The right word spoken seals all, like a kiss on the lips." [1] Truthful speech is a mark of friendship.
"As a sincere kiss shows affection and is desirable, so an honest (and perhaps straightforward) answer shows a person"s concern and therefore is welcomed." [2]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 24

1  Precepts and Warnings

What do the individual words in Proverbs 24:26 mean?

The lips kisses He who gives a answer right
שְׂפָתַ֥יִם יִשָּׁ֑ק מֵ֝שִׁ֗יב דְּבָרִ֥ים נְכֹחִֽים

שְׂפָתַ֥יִם  The  lips 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
יִשָּׁ֑ק  kisses 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁק 
Sense: to put together, kiss.
מֵ֝שִׁ֗יב  He  who  gives 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
דְּבָרִ֥ים  a  answer 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
נְכֹחִֽים  right 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: נָכֹחַ  
Sense: straight, right, straightness, be in front of.