Bible/Proverbs/28

Proverbs 28:14

28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

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Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Happy is the man that fears always: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.

28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

What does Proverbs 28:14 mean?

Proverbs 28:14 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אֶשֶׁר (ʼesher), אָדָם (ʼâdâm), פָּחַד (pâchad). It connects to 10 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Happyאֶשֶׁרʼesher/eh'-sher/H835happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
is
the
manאָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
that
fearethפָּחַדpâchad/paw-kkad'/H6342to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general
alway:תָּמִידtâmîyd/taw-meed'/H8548properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the regular (daily) sacrifice
but
he
that
hardenethקָשָׁהqâshâh/kaw-shaw'/H7185properly, to be dense, i.e. tough or severe (in various applications)
his
heartלֵבlêb/labe/H3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
shall
fallנָפַלnâphal/naw-fal'/H5307to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
into
mischief.רַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

Commentary on Proverbs 28:14

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 28:14
are happy who never fear; but there is a fear which is so far from having torment in it that it has in it the greatest satisfaction. Happy is the man who always keeps up in his mind a holy awe and reverence of God, his glory, goodness, and government, who is always afraid of offending God and incurring his displeasure, who keeps conscience tender and has a dread of the appearance of evil, who is always jealous of himself, distrustful of his own sufficiency, and lives in expectation of troubles and changes, so that, whenever they come, they are no surprise to him. He who keeps up such a fear as this will live a life of faith and watchfulness, and therefore happy is he, blessed and holy. 2. The danger of a sinful presumption: He that hardens his heart, that mocks at fear, and sets God and his judgments at defiance, and receives not the impressions of his word or rod, shall fall into mischief; his presumption will be his ruin, and whatever sin (which is the greatest mischief) he falls into it is owing to the hardness of his heart. 15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. It is written indeed, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people; but if he be a wicked ruler, that oppresses the people, especially

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 20:7

Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

Genesis 26:11

And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Genesis 27:39

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; the fatness: or, of the fatness

Genesis 27:40

And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Genesis 48:19

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. multitude: Heb. fulness

Genesis 48:20

And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Genesis 49:8

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

1 Kings 19:16

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. Elisha: Gr. Eliseus

Zechariah 2:8

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

1 John 2:27

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. in him: or, in it

Topics

ImpenitenceWicked

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 28:14.

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. every: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires continually: Heb. every day

Genesis 8:21

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. a sweet: Heb. a savour of rest or, satisfaction for the imagination: or, through the imagination

1 Kings 10:8

Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

Exodus 28:29

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

Exodus 28:30

And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

Exodus 7:3

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.

Genesis 17:17

Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 28:14 say?

Proverbs 28:14 (King James Version) reads: "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."

Is Proverbs 28:14 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 28:14 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 28:14, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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