Proverbs 14:35
in Proverbs 14A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.
KJV
The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
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This verse in Proverbs 14
Commentary
6 notes on this verseHis wrath will fall upon the useless. He indeed about whom the same says: And cast the useless servant into the outer darkness (Ibid.)
This site's exposition
Righteousness exalts a nation
on Proverbs 14:34-35
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” closes the chapter on its public turn. The closing proverb narrows the same principle to one court: “A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful”.
This site's exposition
A king delights in a wise servant
The chapter ends at court, where a servant's standing rests on the king's pleasure. Bede reads the second line through the parable of the useless servant, whom the Lord casts into the outer darkness. The earthly court pictures the heavenly one.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A minister of the kingdom who is understanding is acceptable. He indeed to whom it is said, Because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your lord (Matt. XXV).
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The king's favour is toward a wise servant,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The king’s favor is toward a wise servant - The king should have an intelligent man for his minister; a man of deep sense, sound judgment, and of a feeling, merciful disposition. He who has not the former will plunge the nation into difficulties; and he who has not the latter will embark her in disastrous wars. Most wars are occasioned by bad ministers, men of blood, who cannot be happy but in endeavoring to unchain the spirit of discord. Let every humane heart pray, Lord, scatter thou the people who delight in war! Amen - so be it. Selah!
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רְֽצוֹן־ | retzon- | [the] favor of | H7522 → | 56 times |
| מֶ֭לֶךְ | melekh | a king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| לְעֶ֣בֶד | leeved | [belongs] to a servant | H5650 → | 799 times |
| מַשְׂכִּ֑יל | maskil | [who] acts prudently | H7919 → | 62 times |
| וְ֝עֶבְרָת֗וֹ | veevrato | and fury his | H5678 → | 34 times |
| תִּהְיֶ֥ה | tihyeh | it belongs | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| מֵבִֽישׁ׃ | mevish | [one who] acts shamefully | H954 → | 127 times |
רְֽצוֹן־[the] favor of
retzon-H7522 →56 times
מֶ֭לֶךְa king
melekhH4428 →2525 times
לְעֶ֣בֶד[belongs] to a servant
leevedH5650 →799 times
מַשְׂכִּ֑יל[who] acts prudently
maskilH7919 →62 times
וְ֝עֶבְרָת֗וֹand fury his
veevratoH5678 →34 times
תִּהְיֶ֥הit belongs
tihyehH1961 →3559 times
מֵבִֽישׁ׃[one who] acts shamefully
mevishH954 →127 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 25:21His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
it leads to
- Matthew 25:23
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Luke 16:10
Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
- 2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
- Revelation 3:21
To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
- Matthew 25:23
Through
Matthew 25:23His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
it leads to
- Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
- Matthew 25:21
Through
Proverbs 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:8
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
- Proverbs 16:12
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
- Proverbs 20:8
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.