Proverbs 17:23

Proverbs 17:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

Context of Proverbs 17:23

21He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. 22A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice. 24Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. 25A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him.

Proverbs 17:23 word by word

שֹׁ֣חַד מֵ֭חֵיק רָשָׁ֣ע יִקָּ֑ח לְ֝הַטּ֗וֹת אָרְח֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

• A wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• receivesלָקַחlâqach · to take: recieveH3947
• bribeשֹׁ֫חַדshachad · bribeH7810
• from the bosomחֵיקchêyq chêq chôq · bosom: secretH2436
• pervertנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• the waysאֹ֫רַח'ôrach · wayH734
• of justiceמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:23

• Proverbs 17:8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
• Proverbs 18:16A man’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great men.
• Proverbs 21:14A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
• Exodus 23:8“You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.
• Deuteronomy 16:19You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
• 1 Samuel 8:3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.
• 1 Samuel 12:3Here I am; bear witness against me before the Lord and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you.”
• Isaiah 1:23Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
• Ezekiel 22:12In you they have taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression, and you have forgotten Me,” declares the Lord God.
• Micah 7:3Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul; So they weave it together.
• Mark 14:10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23A gift out of the bosom - Out of his purse; as in their bosoms, above their girdles, the Asiatics carry their purses. I have often observed this.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The words “out of the bosom,” from the fold of the garment, rather than from the bag or girdle in which money was usually carried, possibly point to the stealthiness with which the “gift” (or, bribe) is offered to the judge.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. a gift ... bosom--Money and other valuables were borne in a fold of the garment, called the bosom. to pervert--that is, by bribery.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:23

• Bribery

In the dictionaries

• Apparel
• Dress
• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Blindness, Judicial

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