Proverbs 18:17 (GNV)

Passage

He that is first in his owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:15 A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.

Proverbs 18:16 A mans gift enlargeth him, and leadeth him before great men.

Proverbs 18:17 He that is first in his owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.

Proverbs 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and maketh a partition among the mightie.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre of a palace.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "first", "owne", "cause", "iust", "commeth", "neighbour", "maketh", and "inquirie". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "first" and "owne", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "A mans gift enlargeth him and leadeth..." into verse 18's "The lot causeth contentions to cease and...", so "first" and "owne" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "first" and "owne" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.