Proverbs 25:17 · Bible study
Proverbs 25:17 Commentary: Seldom Set Foot
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover the wisdom of Proverbs 25:17: why measured visits preserve friendship. Hebrew word study, historical context, and cross-references.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Limit visits to a neighbor’s house to avoid becoming a burden and losing friendship.
- Key words: הֹקַר (hoqar, “make rare/precious”), רֵעַ (rea, “neighbor/friend”), שָׂבֵעַ (sava, “be sated”).
- Main debate: The verse is widely agreed on; no significant interpretive dispute.
- Theological theme: Wisdom in relationships, boundaries preserve love.
- Best use: Teaching on friendship, boundaries, moderation, and considerate love.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
KJV King James Version 1769
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated with thee, and have hated thee.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Detén tu pie de la casa de tu vecino, porque harto de ti no te aborrezca.
Não exagere teus pés na casa de teu próximo, para que ele não se canse de ti, e te odeie.
Mets rarement le pied dans la maison de ton prochain,
Entzieh deinen Fuß vom Hause deines Nächsten; er möchte dein überdrüssig und dir gram werden.
Spaar uw voet van het huis uws naasten, opdat hij niet zat van u worde, en u hate.
Metti di rado il piede in casa del prossimo, ond’egli, stufandosi di te, non abbia ad odiarti.
Powściągnij nogę twoję od domu bliźniego twego, by snać będąc ciebie syt, nie miał cię w nienawiści.
Не учащай входить в дом друга твоего, чтобы он не наскучил тобою и не возненавидел тебя.
你的腳 要少進 鄰舍 的家，恐怕 他厭煩你，恨惡你。
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Proverbs 25:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this proverb warns against the danger of over-familiarity in friendship. The opening verb, hoqar (the Hiphil imperative of yaqar, “to be precious”), literally commands a person to “make your foot precious or rare” at a neighbor’s house. Matthew Henry observes that “it is wisdom, as well as good manners, not to be troublesome to our friends in our visiting them.” Adam Clarke draws on the familiar proverb, “Too much familiarity breeds contempt.” Barnes notes the link with the preceding verse about honey: though one’s company might be initially sweet, excessive presence soon turns welcome into loathing. Gill highlights the Hebrew progression: the danger is that the neighbor becomes “sated” (yisba’akha, from sava) with you, and that surfeit curdles into hatred. The core principle is clear: moderation in visits preserves friendship; frequency destroys it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse teaches that moderation in visiting preserves goodwill, while excess destroys it.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation of the command | All commentators read the verse as a warning against excessive visiting. | Some read the Hebrew command as 'withdraw your foot' (KJV, Vulgate) while others prefer 'make your foot rare' (LXX); both reach the same practical counsel. |
| Scope of application | The principle applies to any person with whom one has regular social contact. | Some apply it strictly to literal neighbors; others extend it to friends and colleagues. |
| Relationship to honey analogy | Both verses share the theme of moderation. | The connection may be a direct analogy (too much of a good thing is bad) or a continuation of the honey metaphor from verse 16. |
| Reconciliation with hospitality | The verse does not forbid hospitality but teaches discretion. | Some see a tension with biblical calls to generous hospitality; others see it as a necessary complement emphasizing wisdom in relationships. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Proverbs 25:17 belongs to a collection of Solomon’s proverbs compiled by the men of Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1). It sits within a cluster that addresses social wisdom: timely words (v11), faithful messengers (v13), patience with rulers (v15), and the caution against too much honey (v16). In the ancient Israelite village, houses were modest and family life was lived in close quarters. Hospitality was a sacred duty, especially to strangers and travelers, as shown in Lot’s urgent welcome of the angels (Genesis 19:2-3) and the old man in Gibeah who offered lodging (Judges 19:18-21). But this proverb addresses a different situation: the repeated, voluntary visit to a neighbor or friend. The word rea can mean friend, companion, or fellow community member. The warning is that even well-meaning friendship can become burdensome if one overstays. Just as honey, though sweet, causes vomiting when eaten excessively (v16), so too does constant presence breed weariness and resentment. The Cambridge Bible notes that the LXX and Vulgate render the verb as “withdraw thy foot,” emphasizing physical removal. Heidenheim suggests the phrase could mean “make your foot precious,” implying that infrequency lends value to one’s company. The verse teaches that wise love respects boundaries, knowing that time apart rekindles appreciation.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variants for Proverbs 25:17. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the LXX rendering is consistent with the Masoretic reading.
Reception History
This proverb has been consistently read across Jewish and Christian traditions as practical wisdom for maintaining friendships. Early Jewish commentaries emphasize the value of boundaries in community life. Reformation-era commentators such as Geneva Bible editors, Matthew Henry, and John Wesley all cite it as a plain rule for avoiding the strain of over-visiting. In sermons and devotional writing, the verse is often paired with the honey warning (v16) to illustrate the dangers of excess in good things. The verse continues to be used today in teaching on healthy relationships, boundaries, and the wisdom of measured presence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Command: Make Your Foot Rare. The Hebrew verb calls for intentional restraint, preserving the value of your presence.
- The Consequence: Weariness Turned to Hatred. Over-satiation leads to loathing; what starts as welcome curdles into resentment.
- The Principle: Boundaries Preserve Relationships. Wise love respects limits and honors the other’s space and time.
Five-point outline
- Recognize the value of your presence. It is precious, not cheap; treat it as such.
- Know the limit. As with honey, moderation applies to company.
- Fear the outcome. Surfeit leads to loathing; the progression is natural and inevitable.
- Apply to all friendships. The principle extends beyond literal neighbors to any close relationship.
- Complement with hospitality. This verse does not forbid welcome; it refines it with wisdom.
Illustration hooks
- A friend who invites you for coffee but soon you show up every day unannounced.
- The coworker who constantly drops by your desk, interrupting your work.
- A relative who visits for two weeks and does not leave, straining the household.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know when I have visited too much?
- Does this verse mean I should not be hospitable to my neighbors?
- What if my neighbor is lonely and wants me to come often? Am I being unkind by staying away?
Leading a Discussion
This proverb may seem to contradict the biblical call to community and hospitality. Actually it deepens that call by adding wisdom. True love considers the other’s comfort, not just our own desire for connection.
Discussion questions
- What does the Hebrew command to “make your foot rare or precious” reveal about the value of a visit?
- How does the honey analogy in verse 16 help you understand the warning of verse 17?
- Why does the verse use the strong word “hate” for the outcome of excessive visits?
- In which of your relationships might you need to apply this wisdom right now?
- How can you balance being a gracious visitor with being a generous host?
- How does this verse relate to Jesus’ teaching to love one another and invite the needy (Luke 14:12-14)?
- Have you experienced a friendship strained by too much togetherness? What did you learn?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 19:2 | and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” |
| Genesis 19:3 | He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. |
| Judges 19:18 | He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to Yahweh’s house; and there is no one who has taken me into his house. |
| Judges 19:21 | So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank. |
| Romans 15:24 | whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that too much closeness between people causes one to start despising the other. This principle holds true even for close friends. Your love for others endures when you keep a proper distance.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes warns that even the most delightful company can become tiresome if visited too often. He emphasizes that repeated presence, however pleasant, may cause a friend to grow weary and even loathe the visits. Frequency, not quality, is the danger.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Christians who hold this view point to Proverbs 25:17, while others emphasize verses about speaking kindly. Both seek to be faithful to Scripture. Your hope lies in Christ and the resurrection.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note cautions against overstaying your welcome at a neighbor's house. Visiting too often can exhaust their patience and turn goodwill into outright hatred.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the command is about moderation in visiting neighbors: make your presence rare, not frequent. A person should not be at a neighbor's house so often that the neighbor grows tired of the company, like a stomach overfilled with honey, and friendship turns into dislike.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draw on an Arabic proverb about not licking up all a friend's honey to stress the same point: visiting too often turns fondness into hatred. The Hebrew "make thy foot rare" means keeping a deliberate distance, not comparing costs. Even genuine love and good intentions can become burdensome if they lack restraint.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the Hebrew verb translated “withhold” literally means “make precious” or “make rare.” The point is to treat your visits as something valuable — frequent or prolonged presence in a neighbor’s home will wear out your welcome and turn fondness into hatred.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry warns that wearing out your welcome with constant visits destroys friendship rather than building it. Familiarity breeds contempt, yet this is a problem only with human neighbors. God, by contrast, is never weary of us; we may come to His throne as often as we wish and always be more than welcome.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Withdraw - Visit him not too frequently.