The Meaning of Proverbs 23:17 Explained

Proverbs 23:17

KJV: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

YLT: Let not thy heart be envious at sinners, But -- in the fear of Jehovah all the day.

Darby: Let not thy heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day;

ASV: Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let not thine heart  envy  sinners:  but [be thou] in the fear  of the LORD  all the day  long. 

What does Proverbs 23:17 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 23

1  Consider carefully what is before you

What do the individual words in Proverbs 23:17 mean?

Not do let envy your heart the sinful for but [be zealous] for the fear of Yahweh all the day
אַל־ יְקַנֵּ֣א לִ֭בְּךָ בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־ בְּיִרְאַת־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה כָּל־ הַיּֽוֹם

יְקַנֵּ֣א  do  let  envy 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָנָא  
Sense: to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous.
לִ֭בְּךָ  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים  the  sinful 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַטָּא  
Sense: sinners adj.
אִם־  but  [be  zealous] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
בְּיִרְאַת־  for  the  fear 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יִרְאָה  
Sense: fear, terror, fearing.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַיּֽוֹם  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.