A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Parallel translations
- WEB A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
- BSB A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
- NKJV A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health.
- NASB A wicked messenger falls into adversity, But a faithful messenger brings healing.
- NLT An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
An unreliable messenger causes harm, but a faithful envoy brings healing. Trustworthiness in carrying out a charge matters greatly.
Overview
In the ancient world a messenger's reliability could determine peace or disaster, so the proverb commends the faithful envoy who brings healing rather than trouble. It highlights the value of integrity in those entrusted with responsibility. Christ is the supremely faithful messenger of the new covenant, bringing the healing news of reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 25:13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
- Ezek 33:7–8So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
- 1 Cor 4:2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
- 2 Cor 5:20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
- 2 Tim 2:2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
- 1 Tim 1:12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
- Ezek 3:18When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
- Jer 23:13–16And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
- 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
- Prov 26:6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
- Prov 10:26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
- Jer 23:28The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
- Prov 25:23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 13:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.