Proverbs 12:9

Proverbs 12:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
• New International Version (NIV)Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant, Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

Context of Proverbs 12:9

7Wicked people soon come to an end and they disappear. But the families of righteous people will continue to be strong. 8People will praise a wise person, as much as his wisdom deserves. But no one will respect a person who is stupid. It is better to be a humble person who has a servant than a proud person who has no food to eat. 10Righteous people take care of their animals. But wicked people are cruel even when they think they are kind. 11A farmer who works hard will have plenty of food to eat. But anyone who works only on useless things is foolish.

Proverbs 12:9 word by word

ט֣וֹב נִ֭קְלֶה וְעֶ֣בֶד ל֑וֹ מִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗ד וַחֲסַר־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• despisedקָלָהqâlâh · to dishonorH7034
• and hath a servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• than he that honourethכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
• himself, and lackethחָסֵרchâsêr · lackingH2638
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899

Cross-references for Proverbs 12:9

• Proverbs 13:7Somebody who has nothing may still pretend to be rich. Somebody else may pretend to be poor, but he is very rich.
• Luke 14:11It will be the same in the kingdom of God. Some people lift themselves up to be important. God will bring all of them down low. Other people are humble. God will lift up those people to a good place.’

Commentaries on Proverbs 12:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9He that is despised, and hath a servant - I believe the Vulgate gives the true sense of this verse: Melior est pauper, et sufficiens sibi; quam gloriosus, et indigens pane. "Better is the poor man who provides for himself, than the proud who is destitute of bread." The versions in general agree in this sense. This needs no comment. There are some who, through pride of birth, etc., would rather starve, than put their hands to menial labor. Though they may…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9Verse 9 He that lives in a humble state, who has no one to wait upon him, but gets bread by his own labour, is happier than he that glories in high birth or gay attire, and wants necessaries.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9What is real matters more than how things look.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. despised--held in little repute, obscure (1Sa 18:23; Is 3:5). hath a servant--implying some means of honest living. honoureth himself--is self-conceited.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 12:9

• Idleness
• Pride
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Cruel
• Happen
• Heaviness
• Pathway
• Poetry
• Reproof
• Vain
• Esteem
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 12

• 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