Proverbs 28:2
in Proverbs 28A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
KJV
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
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This verse in Proverbs 28
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Anarchy producing contending rulers shortens the reign of each. but by a man . . . prolonged--or, "by a man of understanding--that is, a good ruler--he who knows or regards the right, that is, a good citizen, shall prolong (his days)." Good rulers are a blessing to the people.
This site's exposition
A land in rebellion has many rulers
on Proverbs 28:2-4
"A land in rebellion has many rulers" reads a nation's instability as the fruit of its own sin. The oppressor of the poor is "like a driving rain that leaves no food." Verse 4 closes the group on the law, since those who forsake it praise the wicked.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Many are the princes - Nations, as nations, cannot be judged in a future world; therefore, God judges them here. And where the people are very wicked, and the constitution very bad, the succession of princes is frequent - they are generally taken off by an untimely death. Where the people know that the constitution is in their favor, they seldom disturb the prince, as they consider him the guardian of their privileges. But by a man of understanding - Whether he be a king, or the king’s prime minister, the prosperity of the state is advanced by his counsels.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Transgression - Better, rebellion. A revolt against a ruler leads to rapid changes of dynasty (the whole history of the kingdom of Israel was a proof of this), but “with men of understanding and knowledge thus shall he (the prince) continue.” True wisdom will lead people to maintain an existing order. The King James Version implies that political disorders may come as the punishment of any national sin. The state - Better, it (the land) shall surely prolong its days in stability.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The wicked flee without a pursuer The wicked flee when their misfortune comes, and they fall on an insignificant thing without a pursuer.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּפֶ֣שַֽׁע | befesha' | by [the] transgression of | H6588 → | 93 times |
| אֶ֭רֶץ | ʾeretz | a land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| רַבִּ֣ים | rabim | [are] many | H7227 → | 454 times |
| שָׂרֶ֑יהָ | sareiha | princes its | H8269 → | 421 times |
| וּבְאָדָ֥ם | uveadam | and by a person | H120 → | 551 times |
| מֵבִ֥ין | mevin | understanding | H995 → | 170 times |
| יֹ֝דֵ֗עַ | yodea' | knowing | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כֵּ֣ן | ken | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יַאֲרִֽיךְ׃ | yaarikh | it will last long | H748 → | 34 times |
בְּפֶ֣שַֽׁעby [the] transgression of
befesha'H6588 →93 times
אֶ֭רֶץa land
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
רַבִּ֣ים[are] many
rabimH7227 →454 times
שָׂרֶ֑יהָprinces its
sareihaH8269 →421 times
וּבְאָדָ֥םand by a person
uveadamH120 →551 times
מֵבִ֥יןunderstanding
mevinH995 →170 times
יֹ֝דֵ֗עַknowing
yodea'H3045 →945 times
כֵּ֣ןthus
kenH3651 →771 times
יַאֲרִֽיךְ׃it will last long
yaarikhH748 →34 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
1 stopEach 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
1 Kings 15:28In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Deuteronomy 32:35
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); Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).