The Meaning of Proverbs 28:7 Explained

Proverbs 28:7

KJV: Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

YLT: Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.

Darby: Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.

ASV: Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whoso keepeth  the law  [is] a wise  son:  but he that is a companion  of riotous  [men] shameth  his father. 

What does Proverbs 28:7 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:7 mean?

Whoever keeps the law [is] a son discerning but a companion of gluttons shames his father
נוֹצֵ֣ר תּ֭וֹרָה בֵּ֣ן מֵבִ֑ין וְרֹעֶה זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים יַכְלִ֥ים אָבִֽיו

נוֹצֵ֣ר  Whoever  keeps 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.
תּ֭וֹרָה  the  law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
בֵּ֣ן  [is]  a  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
מֵבִ֑ין  discerning 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
וְרֹעֶה  but  a  companion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָעָה 
Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.
זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים  of  gluttons 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: זָלַל 
Sense: to be worthless, be vile, be insignificant, be light.
יַכְלִ֥ים  shames 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּלַם  
Sense: to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be put to shame, be reproached, be put to confusion, be humiliated.
אָבִֽיו  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.