The Meaning of Proverbs 19:17 Explained

Proverbs 19:17

KJV: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

YLT: Whoso is lending to Jehovah is favouring the poor, And his deed He repayeth to him.

Darby: He that is gracious to the poor lendeth unto Jehovah; and what he hath bestowed will he repay unto him.

ASV: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that hath pity  upon the poor  lendeth  unto the LORD;  and that which he hath given  will he pay him again. 

What does Proverbs 19:17 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 19

1  Life and Conduct

What do the individual words in Proverbs 19:17 mean?

Lends to Yahweh He who has pity on the poor and what he has given He will pay back to
מַלְוֵ֣ה יְ֭הוָה ח֣וֹנֵֽן דָּ֑ל וּ֝גְמֻל֗וֹ יְשַׁלֶּם־ לֽוֹ

מַלְוֵ֣ה  Lends  to 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: לָוָה 
Sense: to join, be joined.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ח֣וֹנֵֽן  He  who  has  pity 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
דָּ֑ל  on  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.
וּ֝גְמֻל֗וֹ  and  what  he  has  given 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּמוּל  
Sense: dealing, recompense, benefit.
יְשַׁלֶּם־  He  will  pay  back 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .