Proverbs 25:17 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 25:17 mean?

Proverbs 25:17 advises against visiting a neighbour so often that the welcome wears thin. The saying pictures a relationship changing for the worse when one person’s repeated presence becomes more than the other person wants to bear.

“Withdraw thy foot” pictures holding back from stepping into the neighbour’s home. After the image of having too much honey in verse 16, the proverb turns to another kind of excess: even a welcome visitor can become unwelcome through too many visits.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 25:17

• “Withdraw” — יָקַר (yaqar): Here the word carries the sense of making something scarce or infrequent. It suggests limiting visits, rather than simply leaving after a single visit.
• “weary” — שָׂבַע (savaʿ): The word can mean being full or having had enough. Here it describes a neighbour who has had more of someone’s company than they want.

Why Proverbs 25:17 matters

• The warning describes a change in the neighbour’s feelings, not just an inconvenience. The saying moves from being “weary of thee” to “hate thee,” showing how repeated visits can strain a relationship.
• The advice is addressed to the visitor, though the neighbour’s reaction is the focus. “Thy foot” and “thy neighbour’s house” place the two people on opposite sides of the doorway.