The Meaning of Proverbs 24:17 Explained

Proverbs 24:17

KJV: Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

YLT: In the falling of thine enemy rejoice not, And in his stumbling let not thy heart be joyful,

Darby: Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;

ASV: Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Rejoice  not when thine enemy  falleth,  and let not thine heart  be glad  when he stumbleth: 

What does Proverbs 24:17 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 24

1  Precepts and Warnings

What do the individual words in Proverbs 24:17 mean?

When falls - your enemy not do rejoice and when he stumbles do let be glad your heart
בִּנְפֹ֣ל [אויביך] (אֽ֭וֹיִבְךָ‪‬) אַל־ תִּשְׂמָ֑ח וּ֝בִכָּשְׁל֗וֹ יָגֵ֥ל לִבֶּֽךָ

בִּנְפֹ֣ל  When  falls 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
[אויביך]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
(אֽ֭וֹיִבְךָ‪‬)  your  enemy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
תִּשְׂמָ֑ח  do  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
וּ֝בִכָּשְׁל֗וֹ  and  when  he  stumbles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
יָגֵ֥ל  do  let  be  glad 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
לִבֶּֽךָ  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.