Proverbs 16:28

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
– Proverbs 16:28

The word for froward means perverse, or fraudulent. The use of soweth means to broadcast or spread, as a sower does with his seed. The perverse man spreads around strife, or contention (Proverbs 6:14, 19; 15:18). A whisperer is a gossip, talebearer, or slanderer. The sowing of strife and spreading of slander causes a rift between even chief friends. Those who are close with a good relationship can be separated by strife and contention. The proverb focuses on the damage done by sowing strife and whispering (Proverbs 17:9; 18:8).

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