The Meaning of Proverbs 21:29 Explained

Proverbs 21:29

KJV: A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

YLT: A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright -- he prepareth his way.

Darby: A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.

ASV: A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A wicked  man  hardeneth  his face:  but [as for] the upright,  he directeth  {08675;03559:08686} his way. 

What does Proverbs 21:29 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A wicked man puts up a show of confidence, but it is a bluff. His bold face reflects a hard heart that holds the opinions and views of others in contempt. [1] The upright, on the other hand, does not need to pretend to be something he is not because he is walking on the right path.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:29 mean?

Hardens a man wicked his face but [as for] the upright he - establishes - his way
הֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא ׀ [יכין] (יָבִ֬ין) [דרכיו] (דַּרְכּֽוֹ)

הֵעֵ֬ז  Hardens 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַז  
Sense: to be strong.
אִ֣ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
רָשָׁ֣ע  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
בְּפָנָ֑יו  his  face 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר  but  [as  for]  the  upright 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.
[יכין]  - 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
(יָבִ֬ין)  establishes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
[דרכיו]  - 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
(דַּרְכּֽוֹ)  his  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.