Commentary - Proverbs 27:19

Bird's-eye view

Proverbs 27:19 presents us with a pithy, memorable comparison that gets right to the center of what it means to be human. The proverb is a couplet, with the first line setting up a physical, observable reality that everyone can immediately grasp. When you look into still water, you see your own face. The second line then takes this principle and applies it to the inner man, to the very seat of our being, which is the heart. Just as water reflects the face, so the heart of one man reflects another. This proverb is a profound statement on anthropology, self-knowledge, and the commonality of the human condition. It teaches us that to understand ourselves, we must understand others, and to understand others, we must first be honest about what is in our own hearts. Ultimately, it points us to the fact that all hearts, in their natural state, reflect the same fallen image, and our only hope is to have our hearts cleansed and remade to reflect the image of Christ.

The wisdom here is twofold. First, there is no escaping what you are. Your heart is a mirror. Your life, your words, your actions, they are all just the reflection of what is happening on the inside. You cannot fundamentally behave in a way that is inconsistent with your heart. Second, this reality is common to all men. The temptations, the desires, the fears, the follies you find in your own heart are not unique to you. They are the common stock of humanity. This is both a humbling and a comforting thought. It humbles us because our pet sins are not sophisticated and unique. It comforts us because the grace that can save one man can save another. The proverb forces us to look inward, not for self-absorbed naval-gazing, but for a true assessment that leads to wisdom, fellowship, and ultimately, to the foot of the cross.

Outline

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Proverbs 27:19

"As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man."

As in water face reflects face...

The proverb begins with something simple, drawn from the fabric of everyday life in the ancient world. Before the invention of glass mirrors, the most common way to see one's own reflection was to look into a calm pool of water, a well, or a basin. The image is immediate and undeniable. The water doesn't lie. It doesn't flatter, and it doesn't critique. It simply shows you what is there. If your face is dirty, the water shows a dirty face. If you are smiling, the water reflects a smile. The reflection is a direct correspondence to the reality.

This is the foundational principle. The physical world God has made is not arbitrary; it is shot through with patterns and analogies that teach us about deeper spiritual realities. The reliability of a reflection in water is something we can build on. It is a given. Solomon is not trying to prove this point; he is assuming it as a shared piece of common sense. This is how God teaches us. He starts with the dirt under our fingernails, with the water in the trough, and from there He takes us to the highest heavens. The created order is God's picture book for His children.

So the heart of man reflects man.

Here is the punch. The same principle of direct, honest reflection applies to the heart. The word "heart" in Scripture is not referring to the sentimental, emotional part of us, the way we use the term today. The biblical heart is the command center of the person. It is the seat of the will, the intellect, the desires, and the conscience. It is the wellspring of life from which everything else flows (Prov. 4:23). What your heart is, you are. Your life is the reflection of your heart.

But the proverb adds another layer. It doesn't just say "the heart reflects the man," but that "the heart of man reflects man." This means that when you look into your own heart with honesty, you are not just seeing yourself. You are seeing the raw material of humanity. You are seeing what it means to be a man. The particular sins and struggles you find in your own heart, pride, envy, lust, fear, selfishness, are not your own unique invention. They are part of the shared inheritance of Adam's race. When you understand your own heart, you understand the hearts of other men. This is why literature can be so powerful. A skillful author can describe the inner workings of a character, and we recognize it immediately. We say, "That's true. I know that feeling. I've had that thought."

This has profound implications. It cuts the legs out from under our pride. We think our temptations are uniquely powerful, our sins uniquely complex. They are not. They are the same old boring sins that have plagued mankind since the Fall. It also provides a basis for genuine compassion and fellowship. When you are dealing with a brother who has sinned, you are not dealing with an alien creature. You are dealing with a man whose heart reflects your own. "There but for the grace of God, go I" is not just a pious platitude; it is a theological reality grounded in this proverb. You know the temptations he faces because you have a heart that generates the very same kind of temptations.

This is why true self-knowledge is not found by staring into our own hearts in an endless loop of introspection. That is like trying to see your reflection in muddy, turbulent water. True self-knowledge comes from looking into the perfect law of liberty, the Word of God, which is the ultimate mirror for the soul (James 1:23-25). The Word shows us our sin, but it doesn't leave us there. It shows us the face of Jesus Christ. And this is the ultimate point. In our natural state, our hearts reflect fallen Adam. But through the gospel, we are being transformed. The Holy Spirit works in us to chip away the old reflection and to burnish a new one. We, "with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18). The goal of the Christian life is for our hearts to no longer reflect generic, fallen man, but to reflect the Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application

First, take the doctrine of the heart seriously. Your problem is not your circumstances, your spouse, your boss, or your upbringing. Your problem is your heart. Your life is a reflection of what is going on in there. If you want to change your life, you cannot simply trim the branches; you must lay the axe to the root. This means repentance, not just for sinful actions, but for the sinful desires of the heart that produce them.

Second, use this principle to grow in wisdom and humility in your relationships. When someone sins against you, remember that their heart is a mirror of your own. When you are tempted to look down on someone for their particular brand of foolishness, remember that your heart is capable of producing the exact same thing, perhaps just in a different flavor. This doesn't mean we excuse sin, but it means we deal with it with a spirit of humility and gentleness, knowing that we too are tempted (Gal. 6:1).

Finally, let this proverb drive you to Christ. If your heart is a true reflection of who you are, then what you need is not a minor touch-up but a heart transplant. This is precisely what God promises in the new covenant: "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26). The only way for the reflection to change is for the object to be changed. We must be found in Christ, so that when God looks at our hearts, He sees the reflection of His Son.