Proverbs 17:8
in Proverbs 17A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
KJV
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 17
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it,.... Or "is a stone of grace" (h), the note of similitude being wanting.
This site's exposition
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged
on Proverbs 17:6-9
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and the glory of a son is his father, an honour running down and up the generations. "Eloquent words are unfit for a fool," and lying lips are worse in a ruler, since rank raises the stakes of what a mouth says.
This site's exposition
A bribe is a charm to its giver
John Gill renders it a stone of grace. Adam Clarke thinks of a cut stone that flashes light whichever way it is turned. So the bribe seems to its giver to succeed wherever he turns.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
A highly desirable gem is the expectation of one waiting, etc. Whoever faithfully awaits future rewards rejoices as if in the possession of a most splendid gem. For in the Gospel, the wise merchant sold all that he had for the acquisition of the precious …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"The expectation of the one who waits is a most precious gem; wherever he turns, he understands prudently." Prudential understanding instructs what is to be awaited, namely the highest good. In all things that direct our understanding in what is to be done and what …
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A gift is as a precious stone - It both enriches and ornaments. In the latter clause there is an evident allusion to cut stones. Whithersoever you turn them, they reflect the light, are brilliant and beautiful.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
A half-satirical description of the power of bribery in palaces and among judges. The precious stone (literally as in the margin) is probably a gem, thought of as a talisman, which, “wherever it turns,” will ensure “prosperity” to him who, being the possessor, has the power to give it.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֶֽבֶן־ | ʾeven- | [is] a stone of | H68 → | 273 times |
| חֵ֣ן | chen | favor | H2580 → | 69 times |
| הַ֭שֹּׁחַד | hashochad | the bribe | H7810 → | 23 times |
| בְּעֵינֵ֣י | beeinei | in [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| בְעָלָ֑יו | vealav | owners its | H1167 → | 84 times |
| אֶֽל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֖ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִפְנֶ֣ה | yifneh | he turns | H6437 → | |
| יַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ | yaskil | he prospers | H7919 → | 62 times |
אֶֽבֶן־[is] a stone of
ʾeven-H68 →273 times
חֵ֣ןfavor
chenH2580 →69 times
הַ֭שֹּׁחַדthe bribe
hashochadH7810 →23 times
בְּעֵינֵ֣יin [the] eyes of
beeineiH5869 →887 times
בְעָלָ֑יוowners its
vealavH1167 →84 times
אֶֽל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁ֖רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִפְנֶ֣הhe turns
yifnehH6437 →
יַשְׂכִּֽיל׃he prospers
yaskilH7919 →62 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
Exodus 23:8Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 16:19
Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 8:3
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
- Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
- Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
- Deuteronomy 16:19
Through
Isaiah 1:23Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.
it leads to
- Micah 7:3
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Exodus 23:8
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Micah 7:3
Through
Micah 7:3Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
it leads to
- Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster…
- Micah 3:11
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.