The Meaning of Proverbs 19:28 Explained

Proverbs 19:28

KJV: An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

YLT: A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

Darby: A witness of Belial scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked swalloweth down iniquity.

ASV: A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An ungodly  witness  scorneth  judgment:  and the mouth  of the wicked  devoureth  iniquity. 

What does Proverbs 19:28 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 19

1  Life and Conduct

What do the individual words in Proverbs 19:28 mean?

A witness disreputable scorns justice and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity
עֵ֣ד בְּ֭לִיַּעַל יָלִ֣יץ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּפִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יְבַלַּע־ אָֽוֶן

עֵ֣ד  A  witness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
בְּ֭לִיַּעַל  disreputable 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּלִיַּעַל  
Sense: worthlessness.
יָלִ֣יץ  scorns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
מִשְׁפָּ֑ט  justice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
וּפִ֥י  and  the  mouth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
יְבַלַּע־  devours 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּלַע 
Sense: to swallow down, swallow up, engulf, eat up.
אָֽוֶן  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.