The Meaning of Proverbs 17:14 Explained

Proverbs 17:14

KJV: The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

YLT: The beginning of contention is a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

Darby: The beginning of contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

ASV: The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The beginning  of strife  [is as] when one letteth out  water:  therefore leave off  contention,  before  it be meddled  with. 

What does Proverbs 17:14 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 17

1  Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked

What do the individual words in Proverbs 17:14 mean?

[is like] releasing water the beginning of strife therefore before a quarrel starts Contention stop
פּ֣וֹטֵֽר מַ֭יִם רֵאשִׁ֣ית מָד֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע הָרִ֥יב נְטֽוֹשׁ

פּ֣וֹטֵֽר  [is  like]  releasing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּטַר  
Sense: to separate, set free, remove, open, escape, burst through.
מַ֭יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
רֵאשִׁ֣ית  the  beginning 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
מָד֑וֹן  of  strife 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָדֹון  
Sense: strife, contention.
וְלִפְנֵ֥י  therefore  before 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע  a  quarrel  starts 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּלַע  
Sense: to expose, lay bare.
הָרִ֥יב  Contention 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רִיב 
Sense: strife, controversy, dispute.
נְטֽוֹשׁ  stop 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: נָטַשׁ  
Sense: to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw.