"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."
Proverbs 16:28
“A froward man soweth strife:”
The “froward” man is the crooked man, or as the Hebrew word means, “perverse,” “perversity, perverse thing.” It is his way of life, and he is good at what he does, causing strife between people.
“Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord” (Proverbs 6:14).
He is a genuine troublemaker who cannot rest unless he’s caused problems between people. A Bible example of this kind of person is Herodias, who was having an illicit relationship with Herod. John the Baptist spoke out publicly about their sin, and Herodias was infuriated by it.
“Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him, but she could not” (Mark 6:19).
But of course, as the story goes on, she “had a quarrel” or literally, she “kept cherishing a grudge” (Bullinger). And in time, she eventually was able to see John beheaded at the request of her daughter. She certainly “sowed strife” into John’s life.
“And a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
The “whisperer” is the “talebearer” who loves to talk about people! His twisted work is to do harm to those he whispers about, so he can make himself look good.
“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (Proverbs 18:8).
“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth” (Proverbs 26:20).
The whisperer causes strife between friends. In fact, he “alienates” his own friends by talking about them.
A genuine friend is no “gossip,” he knows how to keep a confidence. He is faithful and loyal to his friend. He is careful with his words.
1. Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
2. E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.