The Meaning of Proverbs 18:23 Explained

Proverbs 18:23

KJV: The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

YLT: With supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.

Darby: He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.

ASV: The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The poor  useth  intreaties;  but the rich  answereth  roughly. 

What does Proverbs 18:23 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 18

1  A fool delights not in understanding

What do the individual words in Proverbs 18:23 mean?

Entreaties uses the poor [man] but the rich answers roughly
תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־ רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת

תַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים  Entreaties 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: תַּחֲנוּן  
Sense: supplication, supplication for favour.
יְדַבֶּר־  uses 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
רָ֑שׁ  the  poor  [man] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רוּשׁ  
Sense: to be poor, be in want, lack.
וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר  but  the  rich 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָשִׁיר  
Sense: rich, wealthy n.
יַעֲנֶ֥ה  answers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
עַזּֽוֹת  roughly 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: עַז 
Sense: strong, mighty, fierce.