Proverbs 17:8

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אֶבֶן־חֵן הַשֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵי בְעָלָיו אֶל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה יַשְׂכִּיל

Transliteration

'eben-chēn ha-šōchad in 'ênê bə'ālāyw to all which yipneh yaśkîl

Grammar Details

• *'eben*: noun, feminine singular construct - stone of
• *chēn*: noun, masculine singular - favor/grace
• *ha-šōchad*: definite article + noun, masculine singular - the bribe
• *bə-'ênê*: preposition + noun, dual construct - in eyes of
• *bə'ālāyw*: noun, masculine plural + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - its owners
• *'el*: preposition - to/toward
• *kōl*: noun - all/every
• *'ăšer*: relative pronoun - which/that
• *yipneh*: verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he turns/faces
• *yaśkîl*: verb, Hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he prospers/succeeds

Word Meanings

• *'eben-chēn*: precious stone/gem/stone of favor
• *šōchad*: bribe/gift/present
• *'ênê*: eyes/sight/perception
• *bə'ālāyw*: its owner/possessor/master
• *yipneh*: turns/faces/goes
• *yaśkîl*: succeeds/prospers/acts wisely

Referenced Verses

• Exod 23:8 : 8 And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
• Prov 17:23 : 23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
• Prov 21:14 : 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
• Isa 1:23 : 23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
• Amos 5:12 : 12 For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins— ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe, and that turn aside the needy in the gate [from their right].
• Mic 7:3 : 3 Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge [is ready] for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.
• Gen 33:9-9 : 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine. 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
• Gen 43:11 : 11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
• Deut 16:19 : 19 Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
• 1 Sam 25:35 : 35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him: and he said unto her, Go up in peace to thy house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
• 2 Sam 16:1-4 : 1 And when David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.
• Ps 18:16 : 16 He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.
• Ps 19:6 : 6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
• Ps 21:13 : 13 Be thou exalted, O Jehovah, in thy strength: So will we sing and praise thy power.
• Ps 29:4 : 4 The voice of Jehovah is powerful; The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.