Proverbs 7:23

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

עַ֤ד יְפַלַּ֪ח חֵ֡ץ כְּֽבֵד֗וֹ כְּמַהֵ֣ר צִפּ֣וֹר אֶל־פָּ֑ח וְלֹֽא־יָ֝דַ֗ע כִּֽי־בְנַפְשׁ֥וֹ הֽוּא׃

Transliteration

Until yĕp̄allaḥ ḥēṣ his kĕḇēḏô, like mahēr ṣippôr to pāḥ, and not he yāḏaʿ that in his nap̄šô it is.

Grammar Details

*yĕp̄allaḥ*: verb, piel imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - it pierces/splits
*ḥēṣ*: noun, masculine singular - arrow
*kĕḇēḏô*: noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his liver
*mahēr*: verb, piel participle, masculine singular - hastening
*ṣippôr*: noun, masculine singular - bird
*pāḥ*: noun, masculine singular - trap/snare
*yāḏaʿ*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he knows
*nap̄šô*: noun, feminine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his life/soul

Word Meanings

*yĕp̄allaḥ*: pierces/splits/cleaves
*kĕḇēḏô*: liver/inner being
*nap̄šô*: life/soul/self

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Eccl 9:12 : 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Num 25:8-9 : 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Prov 1:17 : 17 For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
Prov 9:18 : 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 7:21-22
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21With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.
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Job 18:7-10
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74%
7The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down.
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10A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way.
Job 20:24-25
2 verses
74%
24He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.
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Prov 6:5
73%
5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand [of the hunter], And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Eccl 9:12
73%
12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
Prov 1:17-18
2 verses
73%
17For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
18And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
Job 40:24
73%
24Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?
Prov 26:18
72%
18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
Amos 3:5
72%
5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is [set] for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?
Prov 7:24
72%
24Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.
Ps 64:7
72%
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Prov 6:26
72%
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Eccl 7:26
72%
26And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Job 39:23
71%
23The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.
Prov 5:6
71%
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Lam 3:12-13
2 verses
71%
12He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
13He hath caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins.
Ps 7:13
71%
13He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts].
Prov 27:8
71%
8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.
Prov 23:32
71%
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.
Ps 35:8
71%
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Jer 17:11
71%
11As the partridge that sitteth on [eggs] which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.
Prov 22:5
70%
5Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
Prov 18:7
70%
7A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
Job 16:13
70%
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Job 28:7
70%
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Ps 10:9
70%
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Job 15:23
70%
23He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
Prov 7:8
70%
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Ps 64:4
70%
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Prov 5:23
70%
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Prov 6:15
69%
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Prov 30:19
69%
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Prov 19:3
69%
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Job 27:22
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Prov 22:14
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14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.
Amos 5:19
69%
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Job 22:10
69%
10Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee,
Job 41:28
69%
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Job 33:18
69%
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Ps 7:15
69%
15He hath made a pit, and digged it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Job 24:23
69%
23[ God] giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.
Job 33:22
69%
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
Prov 26:9
69%
9[ As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.