Proverbs 10:21

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽאֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃

Transliteration

śiptêy ṣaddîq yirʿû rabbîm we-ʾĕwîlîm baḥăsar-lēb yāmûtû

Grammar Details

• *śiptêy*: feminine dual construct - lips of
• *ṣaddîq*: masculine singular adjective - righteous
• *yirʿû*: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural - feed/shepherd
• *rabbîm*: masculine plural adjective - many
• *we-ʾĕwîlîm*: conjunction + masculine plural noun - and fools
• *baḥăsar*: preposition + masculine singular construct - in lack of
• *lēb*: masculine singular noun - heart/understanding
• *yāmûtû*: Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural - they die

Word Meanings

• *śiptêy*: lips/speech/words
• *ṣaddîq*: righteous/just/lawful
• *yirʿû*: feed/shepherd/nourish/sustain
• *rabbîm*: many/great/numerous
• *ʾĕwîlîm*: fools/silly ones/simpletons
• *ḥăsar*: lack/want/absence
• *lēb*: heart/mind/understanding
• *yāmûtû*: they die/perish/expire

Referenced Verses

• Hos 4:6 : 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
• Prov 5:23 : 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
• Job 4:3-4 : 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
• Job 23:12 : 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
• Job 29:21-22 : 21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
• Ps 37:30 : 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh{H8762)} of judgment.
• Prov 1:29 : 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
• Prov 1:31 : 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
• Prov 5:12 : 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
• Prov 12:18 : 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
• Prov 15:4 : 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
• Prov 17:16 : 16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
• Eccl 12:9-9 : 9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
• Jer 3:15 : 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
• Jer 15:16 : 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
• Matt 13:19 : 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
• John 3:19-20 : 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
• John 21:15-17 : 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
• Rom 1:28 : 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
• 1 Pet 5:2 : 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;