Proverbs 29:4

Proverbs 29:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
• New International Version (NIV)By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
• English Standard Version (ESV)By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

Context of Proverbs 29:4

2When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it. 5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

Proverbs 29:4 word by word

מֶ֗לֶךְ בְּ֭מִשְׁפָּט יַעֲמִ֣יד אָ֑רֶץ וְאִ֖ישׁ תְּרוּמ֣וֹת יֶֽהֶרְסֶֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear

• By justiceמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• a kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• brings stabilityעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: riseH5975
• to the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• but a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• who exacts tributeתְּרוּמָהterûmâh terûmâh · contributionH8641
• demolishes itהָרַסhâras · to overthrowH2040

Cross-references for Proverbs 29:4

• Proverbs 29:14A king who judges the poor with fairness— his throne will be established forever.
• Proverbs 16:12Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
• Proverbs 20:8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
• 1 Samuel 13:13“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
• 2 Samuel 8:15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
• 1 Kings 2:12So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.
• Psalms 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.
• Psalms 99:4The mighty King loves justice. You have established equity; You have exercised justice and righteousness in Jacob.
• Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
• Isaiah 49:8This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,
• 2 Kings 15:18And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and throughout his reign he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.
• Jeremiah 22:13“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,
• Daniel 11:20In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.
• 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.

Commentaries on Proverbs 29:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He that receiveth gifts - This was notoriously the case in this kingdom, before the passing of the Magna Charta, or great charter of liberties. Hence that article in it, Nulli vendemus justitiam; "We will not sell justice to any." I have met with cases in our ancient records where, in order to get his right, a man was obliged almost to ruin himself in presents to the king, queen, and their favourites, to get the case decided in his favor.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 The Lord Jesus is the King who will minister true judgment to the people.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4A fair king protects the rights of others. A ruler who takes bribes uses his position for personal benefit (see also Proverbs 17:23; 22:16; 28:21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. by judgment--that is, righteous decisions, opposed to those procured by gifts (compare Pr 28:21), by which good government is perverted. land--for nation.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 29:4

• Bribery
• King
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Correct
• Delicately
• Flatter
• Hasty
• Rejoice
• Trust
• Uphold
• Gift
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 29

• 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