John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself] , etc.] Between thee and him alone; lay the matter before him, and hear what he has to say for himself, by which you will better judge of the nature of the cause; try to compromise things, and make up the difference between you, which is much better than to commence a lawsuit; at least such a step should be taken first; (see Matthew 5:25); and discover not a secret to another ; if the thing in controversy is a secret, do not acquaint another person with it; keep it among yourselves, if the affair can be made up without bringing it into a court of judicature; besides, by communicating it to others, you may have bad counsel given, and be led to take indirect methods: or, “the secret of another”, or, “another secret do not discover” f676 ; if you know anything scandalous and reproachful of your neighbour and his family, you are contending with, which does not concern the cause in hand, do not divulge it, as persons from a spirit of revenge are apt to do, when they are quarrelling or litigating a point with each other.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-10 - To be hasty in beginning strife, will bring into difficulties. War mus at length end, and might better be prevented. It is so in privat quarrels; do all thou canst to settle the matter.
Original Hebrew ריבך7378 ריב7379 את854 רעך7453 וסוד5475 אחר312 אל408 תגל׃1540
