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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

Context of Proverbs 17:2

1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. 3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 4A wicked person listens to deceitful 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• A wiseשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• shall have ruleמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
• over a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• that causeth shameבּוֹשׁbûsh · be ashamedH954
• and shall have partחָלַקchâlaq · to divideH2505
• of the inheritanceנַחֲלָהnachălâh · inheritanceH5159
• amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• the brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:2

• Proverbs 11:29Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
• Proverbs 14:35A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
• Genesis 24:4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
• Ecclesiastes 4:13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
• Proverbs 10:5He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
• Proverbs 19:26Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
• Proverbs 29:15A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its 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