Proverbs 17 · Verse 23

Proverbs 17:23

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Proverbs 17:23, King James Version

Proverbs 17:23 in other translations

BSBA wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
WEBA wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
ASVA wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
YLTA bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
DARBYA wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
BBEA sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
WebsterA wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

What does Proverbs 17:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. a gift ... bosom--Money and other valuables were borne in a fold of the garment, called the bosom. to pervert--that is, by bribery.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 A gift out of the bosom - Out of his purse; as in their bosoms, above their girdles, the Asiatics carry their purses. I have often observed this.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 17:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שֹׁ֣חַדSho.chada bribeH7810
מֵ֭חֵיקMe.cheikfrom [the] bosomH2436
רָשָׁ֣עra.Sha'a wicked [person]H7563
יִקָּ֑חyi.Kachhe acceptsH3947
לְ֝הַטּ֗וֹתle.ha.Totto turn asideH5186
אָרְח֥וֹת'a.re.Chot[the] paths ofH734
מִשְׁפָּֽט\׃mish.PatjusticeH4941

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 17:23

  • Micah 7:3

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 16:19

    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.

  • Exodus 23:8

    And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

  • Proverbs 17:8

    A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

  • Isaiah 1:23

    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.

  • 1 Samuel 8:3

    And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

  • Proverbs 18:16

    A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

  • Ezekiel 22:12

    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.

  • Micah 3:11

    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.

  • 1 Samuel 12:3

    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.

  • Mark 14:10-11

    And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

  • Proverbs 21:14

    A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8; 18:16; 21:14; Ex 23:8; De 16:19; 1Sa 8:3; 12:3; Isa 1:23
Eze 22:12; Mic 7:3; Mr 14:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 17:22

    A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

  • Proverbs 17:23

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

  • Proverbs 17:24

    Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Read all of Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El impío toma dádiva del seno, para pervertir las sendas del derecho.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le méchant prend de son sein un présent pour faire dévier les sentiers du jugement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Gesetzlose nimmt ein Geschenk aus dem Busen, um die Pfade des Rechts zu beugen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Munera de sinu impius accipit, ut pervertat semitas judicii.