Proverbs 20:21

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

נַ֭חֲלָה *מבחלת **מְבֹהֶ֣לֶת בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ לֹ֣א תְבֹרָֽךְ׃

Transliteration

naḥalâ *məbōhelet in-the-riʾšōnâ and-ʾaḥarîtāh not təbōrāk*

Grammar Details

• *naḥalâ*: noun, feminine singular - inheritance/possession
• **məbōhelet**: verb, Pual participle feminine singular - gained hastily
• *riʾšōnâ*: adjective, feminine singular - beginning/first
• *ʾaḥarîtāh*: noun, feminine singular with 3rd feminine singular suffix - its end
• *təbōrāk*: verb, Pual imperfect 3rd feminine singular - will be blessed

Word Meanings

• *naḥalâ*: inheritance/possession/property
• **məbōhelet**: gained hastily/acquired quickly/gotten anxiously
• *riʾšōnâ*: beginning/first/initial stage
• *ʾaḥarîtāh*: its end/outcome/final state
• *təbōrāk*: will be blessed/will prosper

Referenced Verses

• Prov 13:22 : 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
• Prov 23:4 : 4 Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
• Prov 28:22 : 22 he that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
• Prov 28:8 : 8 He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
• Prov 28:20 : 20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
• Hab 2:6 : 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!
• Zech 5:4 : 4 I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
• Mal 2:2 : 2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
• 1 Tim 6:9 : 9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
• Job 27:16-17 : 16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay; 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.