Proverbs 18 · Verse 16

Proverbs 18:16

A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16, King James Version

Proverbs 18:16 in other translations

BSBA man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
WEBA man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
ASVA man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
YLTThe gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
DARBYA man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
BBEA man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.
WebsterA man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

What does Proverbs 18:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. (Compare Pr 17:8, 23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 A man's gift maketh room for him - It is, and ever has been, a base and degrading practice in Asiatic countries, to bring a gift or present to the great man into whose presence you come. Without this there is no audience, no favor, no justice. This arose from the circumstance that men must not approach the altar of God without an offering. Potentates, wishing to be considered as petty gods, demanded a similar homage: - Munera, crede mihi, capiunt hominesquedeosque; Placatur donis Jupiter ipse suis. Ovid "Believe me, gifts prevail much with both gods and men: even Jupiter himself is pleased with his own offerings."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Blessed be the Lord, who makes us welcome to come to his throne, without money and without price. May his gifts make room for him in our souls.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 18:16 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.

מַתָּ֣ןma.Tan[the] gift ofH4976
אָ֭דָם'A.doma personH120
יַרְחִ֣יבyar.Chivit makes spaceH7337
ל֑וֹlofor him
וְלִפְנֵ֖יve.lif.Neiand <to> beforeH6440
גְדֹלִ֣יםge.do.Limgreat [people]H1419
יַנְחֶֽנּוּ\׃yan.Che.nuit leads himH5148

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

Cross references for Proverbs 18:16

  • Proverbs 19:6

    Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

  • Genesis 43:11

    And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

  • Genesis 33:10

    And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

  • 1 Samuel 25:27

    And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

  • Proverbs 17:8

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

  • Genesis 32:20

    And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

  • 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
17:8; 19:6; 21:14; Ge 32:20; 33:10; 43:11; 1Sa 25:27

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

Context

  • Proverbs 18:15

    The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

  • Proverbs 18:16

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

  • Proverbs 18:17

    He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Read all of Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El presente del hombre le ensancha el camino, y le lleva delante de los grandes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le don d’un homme lui fait faire place et l’introduit devant les grands.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Geschenk des Menschen macht ihm Raum und verschafft ihm Zutritt zu den Großen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.