Proverbs 17:7

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֹא־נָאוָה לְנָבָל שְׂפַת־יֶתֶר אַף כִּי־לְנָדִיב שְׂפַת־שָׁקֶר

Transliteration

Not nā'wāh for nābāl śəpat-yeter 'ap kî-for nādîb śəpat-šāqer

Grammar Details

• *lō*: negative particle - not
• *nā'wāh*: verb, Qal perfect, 3rd person feminine singular - it is fitting/becoming
• *lə-nābāl*: preposition + noun - for a fool
• *śəpat*: noun, feminine singular construct - speech of/lip of
• *yeter*: noun - excellence/superiority/excess
• *'ap*: conjunction - moreover/indeed/also
• *kî*: conjunction - that/because/since
• *lə-nādîb*: preposition + noun - for a noble one
• *šāqer*: noun - falsehood/lie/deception

Word Meanings

• *nā'wāh*: befitting/suitable/becoming/appropriate
• *nābāl*: fool/senseless person
• *śəpat*: speech/language/lip
• *yeter*: excellent/superior/excessive/lofty
• *'ap kî*: how much less/much more/certainly
• *nādîb*: noble/willing/generous person
• *šāqer*: falsehood/deception/lie

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 23:3 : 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
• Job 34:12 : 12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
• Ps 50:16-17 : 16 But unto the wicked God saith{H8804)}, What hast thou to do to declare{H8763)} my statutes, or that thou shouldest take{H8799)} my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest{H8804)} instruction, and castest{H8686)} my words behind thee.
• Ps 101:3-5 : 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
• Prov 12:19 : 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
• Prov 16:10-13 : 10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. 11 A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. 12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
• Prov 26:7 : 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
• Prov 29:12 : 12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
• Matt 7:5 : 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.