Proverbs 20:14
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 20:14
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse reveals the buyer's double-dealing: first, he discredits the goods to the seller to get a lower price, then he boasts to others about how he tricked the seller. It highlights a sneaky, self-congratulatory spirit that finds pride in deception, not in fair dealing.
This proverb appears within a section of Proverbs that offers wise observations on daily life and character. It follows verses about diligence and wisdom, and immediately precedes a verse warning against speaking evil of parents. The focus here is on the common, yet deceitful, practice of a buyer who intentionally belittles an item to get a lower price, only to brag later about their supposed cleverness in getting a good deal.
Ever felt the urge to point out every flaw in something you really want, just to get a better price? This verse exposes that tactic.
This proverb highlights a common, yet deceitful, business practice. The buyer, with a sly intention, claims the goods are worthless ('naught, naught') not because they truly are, but to manipulate the seller into lowering the price. This is a deliberate act of discrediting something's value to gain a personal advantage. It's about pretending a flaw exists or exaggerating minor ones to trick someone into a cheaper deal.
Once the deal is done, the buyer feels smug. What's behind this post-purchase pride?
The real sting of this proverb comes after the transaction. The buyer, having successfully 'outwitted' the seller, doesn't just walk away quietly. Instead, they 'boast.' This boasting isn't about a fair exchange; it's about a victory in deception. It reveals a heart that finds pride in cunning and cleverness, especially when it comes at the expense of another's potential gain. Solomon points out that this kind of self-congratulation over trickery is ultimately a hollow and dishonorable pursuit.
This passage warns against greed and covetousness, highlighting that a person's true worth isn't in possessions but in their relationship with God. The buyer in Proverbs boasts about getting a 'deal,' revealing a heart focused on material gain, a concept Jesus cautions against.
Romans 1:29-31This list of vices includes deceitfulness and boastfulness. The buyer's actions—downplaying an item's worth to get a better price and then bragging about their cleverness—directly reflect this description of ungodly behavior.
James 4:16James explicitly states that 'such boasting is evil,' directly addressing the buyer's pride in his deceitful dealings. This verse underscores the spiritual danger of celebrating manipulative practices.
Proverbs 11:1This verse also speaks about dishonest scales and how they are an abomination to the Lord. It provides a broader context within Proverbs for condemning deceptive business practices, of which the buyer's behavior is a specific example.
barnesProverbs 20:14: "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth."
Naught - Bad, worthless 2 Kings 2:19 .
ellicottProverbs 20:14: "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth."
(14) It is naught, saith the buyer.— He cries down the goods he wants to purchase. Then he boasteth.—How he has outdone the seller, and got the goods below their value. For other notices of cheating in trade see above on Proverbs 11:1.
This verse reveals the buyer's double-dealing: first, he discredits the goods to the seller to get a lower price, then he boasts to others about how he tricked the seller. It highlights a sneaky, self-congratulatory spirit that finds pride in deception, not in fair dealing.
This proverb appears within a section of Proverbs that offers wise observations on daily life and character. It follows verses about diligence and wisdom, and immediately precedes a verse warning against speaking evil of parents. The focus here is on the common, yet deceitful, practice of a buyer who intentionally belittles an item to get a lower price, only to brag later about their supposed cleverness in getting a good deal.
This proverb appears within a section of Proverbs that offers wise observations on daily life and character. It follows verses about diligence and wisdom, and immediately precedes a verse warning against speaking evil of parents. The focus here is on the common, yet deceitful, practice of a buyer who intentionally belittles an item to get a lower price, only to brag later about their supposed cleverness in getting a good deal.
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"“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts." — This verse reveals the buyer's double-dealing: first, he discredits the goods to the seller to get a lower price, then he boasts to others about how he tricked the seller. It highlights a sneaky, sel…