Proverbs 27:4
New International Version
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

New Living Translation
Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.

English Standard Version
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Berean Standard Bible
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

King James Bible
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

New King James Version
Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?

New American Standard Bible
Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?

NASB 1995
Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?

NASB 1977
Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?

Legacy Standard Bible
Wrath is cruelty and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?

Amplified Bible
Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood, But who is able to endure and stand before [the sin of] jealousy?

Christian Standard Bible
Fury is cruel, and anger a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Fury is cruel, and anger a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

American Standard Version
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

Contemporary English Version
An angry person is dangerous, but a jealous person is even worse.

English Revised Version
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Anger is cruel, and fury is overwhelming, but who can survive jealousy?

Good News Translation
Anger is cruel and destructive, but it is nothing compared to jealousy.

International Standard Version
Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms but who can stand up to jealousy?

Majority Standard Bible
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

NET Bible
Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

New Heart English Bible
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

Webster's Bible Translation
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

World English Bible
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Fury [is] fierce, and anger [is] overflowing, "" And who stands before jealousy?

Young's Literal Translation
Fury is fierce, and anger is overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?

Smith's Literal Translation
Wrath is cruelty, and anger an overflowing; and who shall stand before jealousy?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Anger hath no mercy, nor fury when it breaketh forth: and who can bear the violence of one provoked?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked?

New American Bible
Anger is cruel, and wrath overwhelming, but before jealousy who can stand?

New Revised Standard Version
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous; but who can stand before envy?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Presumption is rage and impetuosity is passion, but who shall stand before envy?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do not Boast about Tomorrow
3A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both. 4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy? 5Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.…

Cross References
James 3:14-16
But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. / For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

James 4:1-2
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? / You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 3:3
for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?

Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Genesis 4:5-8
but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell. / “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? / If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” ...

Genesis 37:4
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” / And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

Job 5:2
For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

Psalm 37:1-2
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. / For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.


Treasury of Scripture

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

James 1:19-21
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: …

but

Proverbs 14:30
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Genesis 26:14
For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Genesis 37:11
And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

envy

Proverbs 6:34
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

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Able Anger Angry Cruel Envy Feeling Fierce Flood Fury Jealousy Outrageous Overflowing Overwhelming Stand Standeth Stream Way Wrath
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Able Anger Angry Cruel Envy Feeling Fierce Flood Fury Jealousy Outrageous Overflowing Overwhelming Stand Standeth Stream Way Wrath
Proverbs 27
1. observations of self love
5. of true love
11. of care to avoid offenses
23. and of the household care














Wrath is cruel
The Hebrew word for "wrath" here is "chemah," which conveys a sense of intense heat or fury. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wrath was often associated with divine judgment or human retribution. The word "cruel" underscores the destructive nature of wrath, likening it to a force that can cause significant harm and suffering. From a conservative Christian perspective, this phrase serves as a warning against allowing wrath to take root in one's heart, as it can lead to actions that are contrary to the teachings of Christ, who calls for forgiveness and love.

and anger is like a flood
The Hebrew term for "anger" is "aph," which can also mean "nostrils" or "face," suggesting the flaring of nostrils in anger. The imagery of a "flood" evokes a powerful, overwhelming force that can sweep away everything in its path. Historically, floods were seen as uncontrollable natural disasters, much like unchecked anger can lead to chaos and destruction in relationships and communities. This phrase highlights the need for self-control and the importance of seeking God's peace to counteract the potentially devastating effects of anger.

but who can withstand jealousy?
The word "jealousy" is translated from the Hebrew "qinah," which can also mean "zeal" or "ardor." In the biblical context, jealousy often refers to an intense, consuming emotion that can lead to envy and strife. The rhetorical question "who can withstand" suggests that jealousy is even more insidious and difficult to resist than wrath or anger. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this serves as a caution against allowing jealousy to fester, as it can lead to sin and separation from God. The verse calls believers to cultivate contentment and trust in God's provision, recognizing that jealousy can erode one's spiritual well-being and relationships with others.

(4) But who is able to stand before envy?--Rather, jealousy. (Comp. Proverbs 6:34.) "Wrath" and "anger" rage for awhile like a storm, and then subside; but jealousy can never be completely set at rest.

Verse 4. - Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous. Again substantives are used, as in ver. 3, "Cruelty of wrath, and overflowing of anger." Figure to yourself the fierceness and cruelty of a sudden excitement of anger, or the bursting forth of passion which, like a flood, carries all before it; these may be violent for a time, yet they will subside when they have spent themselves. But who is able to stand before envy? or rather, jealousy. The reference is not so much to the general feeling of envy as to the outraged love in the relation of husband and wife (see Proverbs 6:34, and note there). Song of Solomon 8:6, "Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the flashes thereof are flashes of fire, a very vehement flame." Such jealousy does not blaze forth in some sudden outbreak, and then die away; it lives and broods and feeds itself hourly with fresh aliment, and is ready to act at any moment, hesitating at no means to gratify itself, and sacrificing without mercy its victim. Septuagint, "Pitiless is wrath, and sharp is anger; but jealousy (ζῆλος) submits to nothing."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Wrath
חֵ֭מָה (ḥê·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2534: Heat, anger, poison

[is] cruel
אַכְזְרִיּ֣וּת (’aḵ·zə·rî·yūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 395: Cruelty, fierceness

and anger
אָ֑ף (’āp̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

[is] like a flood,
וְשֶׁ֣טֶף (wə·še·ṭep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7858: Flood -- a deluge

but who
וּמִ֥י (ū·mî)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

can withstand
יַ֝עֲמֹד (ya·‘ă·mōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

jealousy?
קִנְאָֽה׃ (qin·’āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming (Prov. Pro Pr)
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