Proverbs 9:17

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מַֽיִם־גְּנוּבִ֥ים יִמְתָּ֑קוּ וְלֶ֖חֶם סְתָרִ֣ים יִנְעָֽם׃

Transliteration

mayim-gnûbîm yimtāqû wleḥem stārîm yinʿām

Grammar Details

• *mayim-gnûbîm*: masculine plural noun with Qal passive participle masculine plural - stolen waters
• *yimtāqû*: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - they are sweet
• *wleḥem*: conjunction with masculine noun construct - and bread of
• *stārîm*: masculine plural noun - secret places/hiding
• *yinʿām*: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - it is pleasant

Word Meanings

• *mayim-gnûbîm*: stolen waters/illicit waters
• *yimtāqû*: they are sweet/taste good/are pleasant
• *leḥem*: bread/food/meal
• *stārîm*: secret places/hiding/concealment
• *yinʿām*: it is pleasant/delightful/agreeable

Referenced Verses

• Prov 20:17 : 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
• Prov 23:31-32 : 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
• Prov 30:20 : 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
• Rom 7:8 : 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
• Eph 5:12 : 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
• Jas 1:14-15 : 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
• Gen 3:6 : 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
• 2 Kgs 5:24-27 : 24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. 26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
• Prov 7:18-20 : 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.