Proverbs 17:2

Proverbs 17:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
• New International Version (NIV)A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

Context of Proverbs 17:2

1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers. 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts. 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Proverbs 17:2 word by word

עֶֽבֶד־מַשְׂכִּ֗יל יִ֭מְשֹׁל בְּבֵ֣ן מֵבִ֑ישׁ וּבְת֥וֹךְ אַ֝חִ֗ים יַחֲלֹ֥ק נַחֲלָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• A servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• who actsשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• wiselyשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• will ruleמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• over a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• who actsבּוֹשׁbûsh · be ashamedH954
• And will shareחָלַקchâlaq · to divideH2505
• in the inheritanceנַחֲלָהnachălâh · inheritanceH5159
• amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• brothersאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:2

• Proverbs 11:29He who troubles his own house will inherit wind, And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
• Proverbs 14:35The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.
• Genesis 24:4but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
• Ecclesiastes 4:13A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.
• Proverbs 10:5He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
• Proverbs 19:26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
• Proverbs 29:15The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:2

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The “servant,” it must be remembered, was a slave, but (as in such cases as Genesis 15:2; 2 Samuel 16:4) might succeed to the inheritance.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2Verse 2 The wise servant is more deserving, and more likely to appear one of the family, than a profligate son.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Wisdom is more important than privilege. If children act foolishly, a wise servant will become the leader of the household.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Compare Pr 14:35). causeth shame--(Pr 10:5). shall ... inheritance--that is, share a brother's part (compare Nu 27:4, 7).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:2

• Children
• Inheritance
• Prudence
• Servant
• Wisdom
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• 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