Proverbs 25:2

Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

The honour of God `is' to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כְּבֹ֣ד אֱ֭לֹהִים הַסְתֵּ֣ר דָּבָ֑ר וּכְבֹ֥ד מְ֝לָכִ֗ים חֲקֹ֣ר דָּבָֽר׃

Transliteration

kĕbōd ʾĕlōhîm hastēr dābār and-kĕbōd mĕlākîm ḥăqōr dābār

Grammar Details

• *kĕbōd*: noun, construct state - glory of/honor of
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: noun, masculine plural (divine singular) - God
• *hastēr*: hiphil infinitive construct - to hide/conceal
• *dābār*: noun, masculine singular - word/thing/matter
• *û*: conjunction - and
• *mĕlākîm*: noun, masculine plural - kings
• *ḥăqōr*: qal infinitive construct - to search out/investigate

Word Meanings

• *kĕbōd*: glory/honor/splendor
• *hastēr*: to hide/conceal/cover
• *dābār*: word/thing/matter/affair
• *ḥăqōr*: to search out/investigate/examine thoroughly

Referenced Verses

• Deut 29:29 : 29 `The things hidden `are' to Jehovah our God, and the things revealed `are' to us and to our sons -- to the age, to do all the words of this law.
• 1 Kgs 3:9-9 : 9 and Thou hast given to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?' 10 And the thing is good in the eyes of the Lord, that Solomon hath asked this thing, 11 and God saith unto him, `Because that thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thee many days, nor asked for thee riches, nor asked the life of thine enemies, and hast asked for thee discernment to understand judgment, 12 lo, I have done according to thy words; lo, I have given to thee a heart, wise and understanding, that like thee there hath not been before thee, and after thee there doth not arise like thee; 13 and also, that which thou hast not asked I have given to thee, both riches and honour, that there hath not been like thee a man among the kings all thy days; 14 and if thou dost walk in My ways to keep My statutes, and My commands, as David thy father walked, then I have prolonged thy days.' 15 And Solomon awaketh, and lo, a dream; and he cometh in to Jerusalem, and standeth before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and causeth to ascend burnt-offerings, and maketh peace-offerings. And he maketh a banquet for all his servants, 16 then come in do two women, harlots, unto the king, and stand before him, 17 and the one woman saith, `O, my lord, I and this woman are dwelling in one house, and I bring forth with her, in the house; 18 and it cometh to pass on the third day of my bringing forth, that this woman also bringeth forth, and we `are' together, there is no stranger with us in the house, save we two, in the house. 19 And the son of this woman dieth at night, because she hath lain upon it, 20 and she riseth in the middle of the night, and taketh my son from beside me -- and thy handmaid is asleep -- and layeth it in her bosom, and her dead son she hath laid in my bosom; 21 and I rise in the morning to suckle my son, and lo, dead; and I consider concerning it in the morning, and lo, it was not my son whom I did bear.' 22 And the other woman saith, `Nay, but my son `is' the living, and thy son the dead;' and this `one' saith, `Nay, but thy son `is' the dead, and my son the living.' And they speak before the king. 23 And the king saith, `This `one' saith, This `is' my son, the living, and thy son `is' the dead; and that `one' saith, Nay, but thy son `is' the dead, and my son the living.' 24 And the king saith, `Take for me a sword;' and they bring the sword before the king, 25 and the king saith, `Cut the living child into two, and give the half to the one, and the half to the other.' 26 And the woman whose son `is' the living one saith unto the king (for her bowels yearned over her son), yea, she saith, `O, my lord, give to her the living child, and put it not at all to death;' and this `one' saith, `Let it be neither mine or thine -- cut `it'.' 27 And the king answereth and saith, `Give ye to her the living child, and put it not at all to death; she `is' its mother.' 28 And all Israel hear of the judgment that the king hath judged, and fear because of the king, for they have seen that the wisdom of God `is' in his heart, to do judgment.
• Job 29:16 : 16 A father I `am' to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
• Rom 11:33-34 : 33 O depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 34 for who did know the mind of the Lord? or who did become His counsellor?
• Job 38:4-39:30 : 4 Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding. 5 Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line? 6 On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone? 7 In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy, 8 And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out. 9 In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors, 11 And say, `Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.' 12 Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place? 13 To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it, 14 It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed. 15 And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken. 16 Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down? 17 Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see? 18 Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare -- if thou hast known it all. 19 Where `is' this -- the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where `is' this -- its place? 20 That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house. 21 Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days `are' many! 22 Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see? 23 That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle. 24 Where `is' this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth. 25 Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices? 26 To cause `it' to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it. 27 To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass? 28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it? 30 As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured. 31 Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open? 32 Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort? 33 Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth? 34 Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee? 35 Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, `Behold us?' 36 Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding? 37 Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down, 38 In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together? 39 Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil? 40 When they bow down in dens -- Abide in a thicket for a covert? 41 Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food. 1 Hast thou known the time of The bearing of the wild goats of the rock? The bringing forth of hinds thou dost mark! 2 Thou dost number the months they fulfil? And thou hast known the time of their bringing forth! 3 They bow down, Their young ones they bring forth safely, Their pangs they cast forth. 4 Safe are their young ones, They grow up in the field, they have gone out, And have not returned to them. 5 Who hath sent forth the wild ass free? Yea, the bands of the wild ass who opened? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, And his dwellings the barren land, 7 He doth laugh at the multitude of a city, The cries of an exactor he heareth not. 8 The range of mountains `is' his pasture, And after every green thing he seeketh. 9 Is a Reem willing to serve thee? Doth he lodge by thy crib? 10 Dost thou bind a Reem in a furrow `with' his thick band? Doth he harrow valleys after thee? 11 Dost thou trust in him because great `is' his power? And dost thou leave unto him thy labour? 12 Dost thou trust in him That he doth bring back thy seed? And `to' thy threshing-floor doth gather `it'? 13 The wing of the rattling ones exulteth, Whether the pinion of the ostrich or hawk. 14 For she leaveth on the earth her eggs, And on the dust she doth warm them, 15 And she forgetteth that a foot may press it, And a beast of the field tread it down. 16 Her young ones it hath hardened without her, In vain `is' her labour without fear. 17 For God hath caused her to forget wisdom, And He hath not given a portion To her in understanding: 18 At the time on high she lifteth herself up, She laugheth at the horse and at his rider. 19 Dost thou give to the horse might? Dost thou clothe his neck `with' a mane? 20 Dost thou cause him to rush as a locust? The majesty of his snorting `is' terrible. 21 They dig in a valley, and he rejoiceth in power, He goeth forth to meet the armour. 22 He laugheth at fear, and is not affrighted, And he turneth not back from the face of the sword. 23 Against him rattle doth quiver, The flame of a spear, and a halbert. 24 With trembling and rage he swalloweth the ground, And remaineth not stedfast Because of the sound of a trumpet. 25 Among the trumpets he saith, Aha, And from afar he doth smell battle, Roaring of princes and shouting. 26 By thine understanding flieth a hawk? Spreadeth he his wings to the south? 27 At thy command goeth an eagle up high? Or lifteth he up his nest? 28 A rock he doth inhabit, Yea, he lodgeth on the tooth of a rock, and fortress. 29 From thence he hath sought food, To a far off place his eyes look attentively, 30 And his brood gulph up blood, And where the pierced `are' -- there `is' he!
• Job 42:3 : 3 `Who `is' this, hiding counsel without knowledge?' Therefore, I have declared, and understand not, Too wonderful for me, and I know not.
• 1 Kgs 4:29-34 : 29 And God giveth wisdom to Solomon, and understanding, very much, and breadth of heart, as the sand that `is' on the edge of the sea; 30 and the wisdom of Solomon is greater than the wisdom of any of the sons of the east, and than all the wisdom of Egypt; 31 and he is wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol, and his name is in all the nations round about. 32 And he speaketh three thousand similes, and his songs `are' five, and the chief one; 33 and he speaketh concerning the trees, from the cedar that `is' in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that is coming out in the wall, and he speaketh concerning the cattle, and concerning the fowl, and concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fishes, 34 and there come out of all the peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth who have heard of his wisdom.
• Ezra 4:15 : 15 so that he doth seek in the book of the records of thy fathers, and thou dost find in the book of the records, and dost know, that this city `is' a rebellious city, and causing loss `to' kings and provinces, and makers of sedition `are' in its midst from the days of old, therefore hath this city been wasted.
• Ezra 4:19 : 19 and by me a decree hath been made, and they sought, and have found that this city from the days of old against kings is lifting up itself, and rebellion and sedition is made in it,
• Job 11:7-8 : 7 By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One? 8 Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?