Proverbs 25:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to be humiliated in the presence of a nobleman whom your eyes have seen.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֤י ט֥וֹב אֲמָר־לְךָ֗ עֲ‍ֽלֵ֫ה הֵ֥נָּה מֵֽ֭הַשְׁפִּ֣ילְךָ לִפְנֵ֣י נָדִ֑יב אֲשֶׁ֖ר רָא֣וּ עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Transliteration

For ṭôb ʾămār-to-you ʿălēh hēnnāh than-hašpîlĕkā before nādîb whom rāʾû ʿênêkā

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *ṭôb*: adjective, masculine singular - good
• *ʾămār*: qal infinitive construct - to say
• *lĕkā*: preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to you
• *ʿălēh*: qal imperative, masculine singular - come up
• *hēnnāh*: adverb - here/hither
• *mē*: preposition - from/than
• *hašpîlĕkā*: hiphil infinitive construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to humiliate you
• *li-pnê*: preposition + construct noun - before
• *nādîb*: noun, masculine singular - noble/prince
• *ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - whom
• *rāʾû*: qal perfect, 3rd person plural - they saw
• *ʿênêkā*: noun, feminine dual construct + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your eyes

Word Meanings

• *ṭôb*: good/better/preferable
• *ʾămār*: to say/to tell
• *ʿălēh*: come up/ascend/go up
• *hēnnāh*: here/hither/to this place
• *hašpîlĕkā*: to humiliate you/to bring you low/to debase you
• *nādîb*: noble/prince/generous person/dignitary
• *rāʾû*: they saw/they observed/they witnessed

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the esence of the ince whom thine eyes have seen.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For better{H2896} is it that it be said{H559} unto thee, Come up{H5927} hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower{H8213} in the presence{H6440} of the prince,{H5081} Whom thine eyes{H5869} have seen.{H7200}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For better{H2896} it is that it be said{H559}{(H8800)} unto thee, Come up{H5927}{(H8798)} hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower{H8213}{(H8687)} in the presence{H6440} of the prince{H5081} whom thine eyes{H5869} have seen{H7200}{(H8804)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Better it is yt it be sayde vnto ye: come vp hither, then thou to be set downe in ye presence of ye prynce, whom thou seyst with thine eyes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For better is it, that it be sayde vnto thee, come vp hyther: then thou to be put lower in the presence of the priuce whom thou seest with thyne eyes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For better [it is] that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For better `that' he hath said to thee, `Come thou up hither,' Than `that' he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here; than for you to be put down in a lower place before the ruler.

• World English Bible (2000)

  for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  for it is better for him to say to you,“Come up here,” than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

Referenced Verses

• Luke 14:7-9 : 7 When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them this parable: 8 'When you are invited to a wedding feast, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by the host.' 9 'Then the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ And humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.' 10 'But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.' 11 'For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.'
• Luke 18:14 : 14 'I tell you that this man went home justified before God rather than the other. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'
• 1 Pet 5:5 : 5 In the same way, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
• Rev 4:1 : 1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. The first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
• Prov 16:19 : 19 Better to be humble with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.