Psalms 37:16

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Psalms.37.16", "source": "טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃", "text": "Better is *məʿaṭ* for *ṣaddîq* than *hămôn rəšāʿîm rabbîm*.", "grammar": { "*ṭôb*": "masculine singular adjective - better/good", "*məʿaṭ*": "masculine singular adjective/noun - little/small amount", "*laṣṣaddîq*": "preposition + definite article + masculine singular adjective/noun - for the righteous person", "*mēhămôn*": "preposition + masculine singular construct - than abundance of", "*rəšāʿîm*": "masculine plural adjective/noun - wicked ones", "*rabbîm*": "masculine plural adjective - many" }, "variants": { "*ṭôb-məʿaṭ laṣṣaddîq*": "better is a little for the righteous/the little of the righteous is better", "*hămôn rəšāʿîm rabbîm*": "abundance of many wicked ones/great wealth of the wicked" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃

Transliteration

Better is məʿaṭ for ṣaddîq than hămôn rəšāʿîm rabbîm.

Grammar Details

• *ṭôb*: masculine singular adjective - better/good
• *məʿaṭ*: masculine singular adjective/noun - little/small amount
• *laṣṣaddîq*: preposition + definite article + masculine singular adjective/noun - for the righteous person
• *mēhămôn*: preposition + masculine singular construct - than abundance of
• *rəšāʿîm*: masculine plural adjective/noun - wicked ones
• *rabbîm*: masculine plural adjective - many

Word Meanings

• *ṭôb-məʿaṭ laṣṣaddîq*: better is a little for the righteous/the little of the righteous is better
• *hămôn rəšāʿîm rabbîm*: abundance of many wicked ones/great wealth of the wicked

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Better is the little that the righteous have than the abundance of many wicked.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  A little that the righteous has is better than the riches of many wicked.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  A small thinge yt the rightuous hath, is better then greate riches of the vngodly.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  A small thing vnto the iust man is better, then great riches to the wicked and mightie.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  A small thing that the righteous hath: is better then great riches of ye vngodly.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  A little that a righteous man hath [is] better than the riches of many wicked.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Better is a little that the righteous has, Than the abundance of many wicked.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Better `is' the little of the righteous, Than the store of many wicked.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  The little which the good man has is better than the wealth of evil-doers.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,

Referenced Verses

• Prov 16:8 : 8 { "verseID": "Proverbs.16.8", "source": "טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃", "text": "Good-*mᵉʿaṭ* in-*ṣᵉdāqāh* from-*rōḇ* *tᵉḇûʾôt* in-not *mišpāṭ*", "grammar": { "*ṭôḇ*": "adjective, masculine, singular - good/better", "*mᵉʿaṭ*": "noun, masculine, singular - little/few", "*bᵉ*": "preposition - in/with", "*ṣᵉdāqāh*": "noun, feminine, singular - righteousness/justice", "*min*": "preposition - from/than", "*rōḇ*": "noun, masculine, singular - abundance/multitude", "*tᵉḇûʾôt*": "noun, feminine, plural - produce/income/revenue", "*bᵉ*": "preposition - in/with", "*lōʾ*": "negative particle - not", "*mišpāṭ*": "noun, masculine, singular - justice/judgment/right" }, "variants": { "*mᵉʿaṭ bᵉṣᵉdāqāh*": "little with righteousness/small amount justly gained", "*bᵉlōʾ mišpāṭ*": "without justice/unjustly/unfairly" } }
• Prov 15:16-17 : 16 { "verseID": "Proverbs.15.16", "source": "טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה מֵאוֹצָ֥ר רָ֝֗ב וּמְה֥וּמָה בֽוֹ׃", "text": "*Ṭôḇ-məʿaṭ bəyirʾat YHWH mēʾôṣār rāḇ ûməhûmāh ḇô*", "grammar": { "*Ṭôḇ*": "adjective, masculine singular - better/good is", "*məʿaṭ*": "adjective, masculine singular - little/few", "*bəyirʾat*": "preposition + noun, feminine singular construct - with fear of", "YHWH": "proper noun - divine name", "*mēʾôṣār*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular - than treasure", "*rāḇ*": "adjective, masculine singular - great/much", "*ûməhûmāh*": "conjunction + noun, feminine singular - and turmoil/trouble", "*ḇô*": "preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - in it" }, "variants": { "*Ṭôḇ-məʿaṭ*": "better is little/good is small amount", "*bəyirʾat YHWH*": "with fear of YHWH/in reverence for the LORD", "*mēʾôṣār rāḇ*": "than great treasure/than abundant wealth", "*ûməhûmāh ḇô*": "and trouble with it/with turmoil in it" } } 17 { "verseID": "Proverbs.15.17", "source": "ט֤וֹב אֲרֻחַ֣ת יָ֭רָק וְאַהֲבָה־שָׁ֑ם מִשּׁ֥וֹר אָ֝ב֗וּס וְשִׂנְאָה־בֽוֹ׃", "text": "*Ṭôḇ ʾăruḥat yārāq wəʾahăḇāh-šām miššôr ʾāḇûs wəśinʾāh-ḇô*", "grammar": { "*Ṭôḇ*": "adjective, masculine singular - better/good is", "*ʾăruḥat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - portion/meal of", "*yārāq*": "noun, masculine singular - vegetables/herbs", "*wəʾahăḇāh*": "conjunction + noun, feminine singular - and love", "*šām*": "adverb - there", "*miššôr*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular - than ox/bull", "*ʾāḇûs*": "qal passive participle, masculine singular - fattened/stalled", "*wəśinʾāh*": "conjunction + noun, feminine singular - and hatred", "*ḇô*": "preposition + 3rd masculine singular suffix - with it" }, "variants": { "*Ṭôḇ ʾăruḥat yārāq*": "better is meal of vegetables/good is dinner of herbs", "*wəʾahăḇāh-šām*": "and love there/with love present", "*miššôr ʾāḇûs*": "than fattened ox/than stalled bull", "*wəśinʾāh-ḇô*": "and hatred with it/with animosity present" } }
• 1 Tim 6:6 : 6 { "verseID": "1 Timothy.6.6", "source": "Ἔστιν δὲ πορισμὸς μέγας ἡ εὐσέβεια μετὰ αὐταρκείας.", "text": "*Estin de porismos megas* the *eusebeia meta autarkeias*.", "grammar": { "*Estin*": "present indicative, 3rd person singular - is", "*de*": "conjunction, adversative - but/yet/and", "*porismos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - gain/means of gain", "*megas*": "nominative, masculine, singular - great/large", "*hē eusebeia*": "nominative, feminine, singular with article - godliness/piety", "*meta*": "preposition - with", "*autarkeias*": "genitive, feminine, singular - contentment/self-sufficiency" }, "variants": { "*porismos*": "gain/profit/means of gain", "*megas*": "great/large/significant", "*eusebeia*": "godliness/piety/devotion/reverence", "*autarkeias*": "contentment/self-sufficiency/satisfaction" } }
• Prov 13:25 : 25 { "verseID": "Proverbs.13.25", "source": "צַדִּ֗יק אֹ֭כֵל לְשֹׂ֣בַע נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֶ֖טֶן רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֶּחְסָֽר׃ פ", "text": "*ṣaddîq ʾōkēl ləśōbaʿ napšô ûbeṭen rəšāʿîm teḥsār*", "grammar": { "*ṣaddîq*": "adjective, masculine singular - righteous person", "*ʾōkēl*": "verb, qal participle, masculine singular - eats", "*ləśōbaʿ*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - to satisfaction of", "*napšô*": "noun, feminine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his soul/appetite", "*û*": "conjunction - but", "*beṭen*": "noun, feminine singular construct - belly/stomach of", "*rəšāʿîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - wicked ones", "*teḥsār*": "verb, qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - will lack/be empty" }, "variants": { "*ṣaddîq*": "righteous person/just one", "*ʾōkēl*": "eats/feeds", "*śōbaʿ*": "satisfaction/fullness/satiety", "*nepeš*": "soul/appetite/desire", "*beṭen*": "belly/stomach/appetite", "*rəšāʿîm*": "wicked ones/evil people", "*teḥsār*": "will lack/will be empty/will go hungry" } }
• Prov 3:33 : 33 { "verseID": "Proverbs.3.33", "source": "מְאֵרַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה בְּבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע וּנְוֵ֖ה צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְבָרֵֽךְ׃", "text": "*məʾērat* *YHWH* in-*bêt* *rāšāʿ* and-*nəwēh* *ṣaddîqîm* *yəbārēk*", "grammar": { "*məʾērat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - curse of", "*YHWH*": "proper noun - the LORD", "*bêt*": "noun, masculine singular construct - house of", "*rāšāʿ*": "adjective, masculine singular - wicked one", "*nəwēh*": "noun, masculine singular construct - dwelling of", "*ṣaddîqîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - righteous ones", "*yəbārēk*": "verb, piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - he blesses" }, "variants": { "*məʾērat*": "curse/execration", "*bêt*": "house/household/family", "*rāšāʿ*": "wicked/criminal/guilty", "*nəwēh*": "dwelling/habitation/abode", "*ṣaddîqîm*": "righteous/just/innocent", "*yəbārēk*": "bless/praise/salute" } }
• Prov 30:9 : 9 { "verseID": "Proverbs.30.9", "source": "פֶּ֥ן אֶשְׂבַּ֨ע ׀ וְכִחַשְׁתִּי֮ וְאָמַ֗רְתִּי מִ֥י יְה֫וָ֥ה וּפֶֽן־אִוָּרֵ֥שׁ וְגָנַ֑בְתִּי וְ֝תָפַ֗שְׂתִּי שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהָֽי׃ פ", "text": "*Pen* *ʾeśbaʿ* *weḵiḥaštî* *weʾāmartî* *mî* *YHWH* *ûpen*-*ʾiwwārēš* *wegānabtî* *wetāpaśtî* *šēm* *ʾĕlōhāy*", "grammar": { "*Pen*": "conjunction - lest", "*ʾeśbaʿ*": "qal imperfect, first person singular - I become satisfied/full", "*weḵiḥaštî*": "conjunction + piel perfect, first person singular - and I deny", "*weʾāmartî*": "conjunction + qal perfect, first person singular - and I say", "*mî*": "interrogative pronoun - who", "*YHWH*": "proper name - Yahweh/the LORD", "*ûpen*": "conjunction + conjunction - and lest", "*ʾiwwārēš*": "niphal imperfect, first person singular - I become poor/impoverished", "*wegānabtî*": "conjunction + qal perfect, first person singular - and I steal", "*wetāpaśtî*": "conjunction + qal perfect, first person singular - and I seize/grab/profane", "*šēm*": "construct state, masculine singular - name of", "*ʾĕlōhāy*": "masculine plural noun + first person singular suffix - my God" }, "variants": { "*weḵiḥaštî*": "and I deny/disown/act deceptively", "*wetāpaśtî*": "and I seize/grab/take/profane/violate" } }
• Eccl 2:26 : 26 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.2.26", "source": "כִּ֤י לְאָדָם֙ שֶׁטּ֣וֹב לְפָנָ֔יו נָתַ֛ן חָכְמָ֥ה וְדַ֖עַת וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ נָתַ֨ן עִנְיָ֜ן לֶאֱס֣וֹף וְלִכְנ֗וֹס לָתֵת֙ לְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים גַּם־זֶ֥ה הֶ֖בֶל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃", "text": "Because to *ʾādām* *sheṭṭôb* to *pānāyw* *nātan* *ḥokmāh* and *daʿat* and *śimḥāh* and to the-*ḥôṭēʾ* *nātan* *ʿinyān* to *leʾĕsôp* and to *liknôs* to *lātēt* to *ṭôb* to *lipnê* the-*ʾĕlōhîm* also-this *hebel* and *rĕʿût* *rûaḥ*.", "grammar": { "*ʾādām*": "masculine singular noun with prefixed preposition - to a person", "*sheṭṭôb*": "relative particle + adjective, masculine singular - who is good/pleasing", "*pānāyw*": "plural noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix with prefixed preposition - before him", "*nātan*": "perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he gave", "*ḥokmāh*": "feminine singular noun - wisdom", "*daʿat*": "feminine singular noun - knowledge", "*śimḥāh*": "feminine singular noun - joy", "*ḥôṭēʾ*": "Qal participle, masculine singular with definite article and prefixed preposition - to the sinner", "*nātan*": "perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he gave", "*ʿinyān*": "masculine singular noun - task/business", "*leʾĕsôp*": "preposition + infinitive construct - to gather", "*liknôs*": "preposition + infinitive construct - to collect", "*lātēt*": "preposition + infinitive construct - to give", "*ṭôb*": "adjective, masculine singular with prefixed preposition - to good", "*lipnê*": "preposition + construct - before", "*ʾĕlōhîm*": "masculine plural noun with definite article - God", "*hebel*": "masculine singular noun - vapor/vanity", "*rĕʿût*": "feminine singular construct - striving of", "*rûaḥ*": "feminine singular noun - wind/spirit" }, "variants": { "*ʾādām sheṭṭôb lĕpānāyw*": "to the person who pleases Him/who is good in His sight", "*ḥokmāh wĕdaʿat wĕśimḥāh*": "wisdom and knowledge and joy", "*ḥôṭēʾ*": "sinner/offender/one who misses the mark", "*ʿinyān*": "task/business/occupation/affair", "*leʾĕsôp wĕliknôs*": "to gather and collect/to gather and heap up", "*lātēt lĕṭôb lipnê hāʾĕlōhîm*": "to give to the one who pleases God/to the one good before God", "*hebel*": "vapor/breath/emptiness/vanity/futility/meaninglessness", "*rĕʿût rûaḥ*": "striving after wind/chasing wind/vexation of spirit" } }
• Eccl 4:6 : 6 { "verseID": "Ecclesiastes.4.6", "source": "ט֕וֹב מְלֹ֥א כַ֖ף נָ֑חַת מִמְּלֹ֥א חָפְנַ֛יִם עָמָ֖ל וּרְע֥וּת רֽוּחַ׃", "text": "*ṭôḇ* *məlōʾ* *ḵap* *nāḥat* from-*məlōʾ* *ḥopnayim* *ʿāmāl* and-*rəʿût* *rûaḥ*", "grammar": { "*ṭôḇ*": "adjective, masculine singular - better/good", "*məlōʾ*": "noun, masculine singular construct - fullness of", "*ḵap*": "noun, feminine singular - palm/hand", "*nāḥat*": "noun, masculine singular - quietness/rest", "*ḥopnayim*": "noun, masculine dual - handfuls/two hands cupped together", "*ʿāmāl*": "noun, masculine singular - labor/toil", "*rəʿût*": "noun, feminine singular construct - striving/chasing after", "*rûaḥ*": "noun, feminine singular - wind/spirit" }, "variants": { "*məlōʾ ḵap*": "handful/palmful", "*nāḥat*": "quietness/tranquility/rest", "*məlōʾ ḥopnayim*": "two handfuls/double handful", "*ʿāmāl*": "labor/toil/trouble/effort", "*rəʿût rûaḥ*": "chasing after wind/striving after wind/vexation of spirit" } }
• Matt 6:11 : 11 { "verseID": "Matthew.6.11", "source": "Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον.", "text": "The *arton* of us the *epiousion dos* to us *sēmeron*.", "grammar": { "*arton*": "accusative, masculine, singular - bread/loaf", "*epiousion*": "accusative, masculine, singular - daily/for the coming day/necessary for existence", "*dos*": "aorist active imperative, 2nd singular - give", "*sēmeron*": "adverb - today/this day" }, "variants": { "*arton*": "bread/loaf/food", "*epiousion*": "daily/for the coming day/for tomorrow/necessary for existence/sufficient", "*dos*": "give/grant/provide", "*sēmeron*": "today/this day/now" } }