Proverbs 17:23

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

שֹׁחַד מֵחֵיק רָשָׁע יִקָּח לְהַטּוֹת אָרְחוֹת מִשְׁפָּט

Transliteration

šōchad from chēq rāšā' yiqqāch to haṭṭôt 'ŏrchôt mišpāṭ

Grammar Details

• *šōchad*: noun, masculine singular - bribe
• *mē-chēq*: preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - from bosom of
• *rāšā'*: noun, masculine singular - wicked person
• *yiqqāch*: verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he takes
• *lə-haṭṭôt*: preposition + infinitive construct, Hiphil - to pervert
• *'ŏrchôt*: noun, feminine plural construct - paths of
• *mišpāṭ*: noun, masculine singular - justice/judgment

Word Meanings

• *šōchad*: bribe/gift
• *chēq*: bosom/lap
• *rāšā'*: wicked person/evil one
• *yiqqāch*: takes/accepts
• *haṭṭôt*: to pervert/turn aside
• *'ŏrchôt*: paths/ways
• *mišpāṭ*: justice/judgment/right

Referenced Verses

• Exod 23:8 : 8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
• Prov 17:8 : 8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
• Mic 7:3 : 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
• Deut 16:19 : 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
• 1 Sam 8:3 : 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
• 1 Sam 12:3 : 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
• Prov 18:16 : 16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
• Prov 21:14 : 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
• Isa 1:23 : 23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
• Ezek 22:12 : 12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
• Mic 3:11 : 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
• Mark 14:10-11 : 10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.