The Meaning of Proverbs 14:21 Explained

Proverbs 14:21

KJV: He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

YLT: Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.

Darby: He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that is gracious to the afflicted, happy is he.

ASV: He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that despiseth  his neighbour  sinneth:  but he that hath mercy  on the poor,  happy  [is] he. 

What does Proverbs 14:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 14

1  A wise woman builds her house

What do the individual words in Proverbs 14:21 mean?

He who despises his neighbor sins but he who has mercy on - the poor happy [is] he
בָּז־ לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ חוֹטֵ֑א וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן [עניים] (עֲנָוִ֣ים) אַשְׁרָֽיו

בָּז־  He  who  despises 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בּוּז  
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, hold as insignificant.
לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ  his  neighbor 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
חוֹטֵ֑א  sins 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן  but  he  who  has  mercy  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
[עניים]  - 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
(עֲנָוִ֣ים)  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
אַשְׁרָֽיו  happy  [is]  he 
Parse: Interjection, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶשֶׁר 
Sense: happiness, blessedness.