Lexical Summary mahalal: Praise, boast Original Word: מַהֲלָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance praise From halal; fame -- praise. see HEBREW halal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom halal Definition praise NASB Translation praise (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַהֲלָל] noun [masculine] praise; — only in וְאִישׂ לְפִי מַהֲלָלוֺ Proverbs 27:21 the refining pot silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man according to his praise, i.e. probably according to the praise of him by others, which tests him; so De Str and others; perhaps however so let a man be to the mouth of his praise, i.e. that praise him, — testing the praise to determine its worth, Thes Rob-Ges; other views are: according to the measure of his boasting Ew, i.e. is judged according to his success or failure in that of which he boasts; Hi according to the thing of which he boasts. Topical Lexicon Definition in the Wisdom Tradition מַהֲלָל (mahalal) denotes the “praise” or “commendation” given to a person. In wisdom literature it serves as a diagnostic tool, revealing the inner metal of character in the same way fire reveals the quality of precious metals. Sole Canonical Occurrence Proverbs 27:21: “A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, and a man is tested by the praise he receives”. The saying forms an antithetical parallelism: the smelting process purifies metals; commendation purifies—or exposes—the man. The vocabulary intentionally links external acclaim with an internal furnace. Literary Context in Proverbs 1. Positioned among maxims that address the formation of character (Proverbs 27:17–27). Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty in Human Appraisal: All praise is ultimately permitted or restrained by God (compare Proverbs 21:1), underscoring His providence over reputations. Historical and Worship Perspectives Even though mahalal occurs only here, the broader culture of Israel valued public recognition—e.g., David’s songs of the mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8–39). Yet inspired authors consistently warn that approval must yield glory to God (Psalm 115:1). Early Jewish sages cited this proverb to illustrate humility; rabbinic writings interpret laudation as a trial of the soul. Connections with New Testament Teaching • Jesus: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you” (Luke 6:26) echoes the cautionary note that praise can be a snare. Ministry and Discipleship Applications 1. Leadership Vetting: Commendation must never replace character assessment; ministry credentials should be weighed in trials as well as accolades. Practical Counsel for Modern Readers • Receive praise as feedback, not fuel. Summary מַהֲלָל stands as a unique yet potent witness within Scripture: the crucible of commendation. Properly understood, it calls every generation to allow public praise to refine rather than inflate, leading to a life where honor ultimately rebounds to the glory of God alone. Forms and Transliterations מַהֲלָלֽוֹ׃ מהללו׃ ma·hă·lā·lōw mahalaLo mahălālōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 27:21 HEB: וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ לְפִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽוֹ׃ NAS: And each [is tested] by the praise accorded KJV: so [is] a man to his praise. INT: and each accorded the praise 1 Occurrence |
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