Proverbs 27:2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court where officials constantly promoted themselves for advancement while wise men waited for recognition...
The emotion here: weary of watching people diminish themselves through self-promotion
The original word
zur (זר) — stranger, foreigner, someone with no obligation to flatter you
Why it matters
In ancient courts, praise from foreigners or strangers carried more weight because they had no political motive
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 27:2
The word 'stranger' is key - it means someone who has nothing to gain by praising you
Common misconceptionPeople think this means never talk about your accomplishments, but it's about the difference between sharing news and fishing for compliments - let your work speak first.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 27:2
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 27:2 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 27:2 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include humility, self-promotion. Notable phrases: let another praise you; not your own mouth. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 27:2 mean to you, today?
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