American Standard Version
Proverbs 18:16
16A man’s gift maketh room for him,And bringeth him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
- New International Version (NIV)A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Context of Proverbs 18:16
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear? 15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men. 17He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out. 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
Read all of Proverbs 18Proverbs 18:16 word by word
מַתָּ֣ן אָ֭דָם יַרְחִ֣יב ל֑וֹ וְלִפְנֵ֖י גְדֹלִ֣ים יַנְחֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 18:16
- Proverbs 17:8A bribe isasa precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
- Proverbs 19:6Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
- Proverbs 21:14A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
- Genesis 32:20and ye shall say, Moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me.
- Genesis 33:10And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
- Genesis 43:11And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
- 1 Samuel 25:27And now this present which thy servant hath brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
Commentaries on Proverbs 18:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A man's gift maketh room for him - It is, and ever has been, a base and degrading practice in Asiatic countries, to bring a gift or present to the great man into whose presence you come. Without this there is no audience, no favor, no justice. This arose from the circumstance that men must not approach the altar of God without an offering. Potentates, wishing to be considered as petty gods, demanded a similar homage: - Munera, crede mihi, capiunt…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The “gift” (or, bribe), by a bold personification, appears as the powerful “friend at court,” who introduces another, and makes him welcome in high places.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 Blessed be the Lord, who makes us welcome to come to his throne, without money and without price. May his gifts make room for him in our souls.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16See “Bribes” Theme Note.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. (Compare Pr 17:8, 23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 18:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries