Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.
Parallel translations
- WEB An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
- KJV Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
- BSB An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
- NKJV He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
- NASB One who gives a right answer Kisses the lips.
- NLT An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
A truthful, fitting answer is as welcome and sincere as a kiss on the lips. Honesty is a gift of love.
Overview
The kiss here pictures genuine affection and friendship, so an honest reply is portrayed as an act of love, not harshness. Truth-telling, even when correcting, blesses both speaker and hearer (Eph 4:15). The verse commends candor over flattery and reflects the character of Christ, who is full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
- Gen 41:38–57Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
- Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Prov 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
- Job 6:25How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
- Dan 2:46–48Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.
- Mark 12:32–34The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,
- Mark 12:17–18Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 24:26 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.