The Meaning of Proverbs 22:29 Explained

Proverbs 22:29

KJV: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

YLT: Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!

Darby: Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.

ASV: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Seest  thou a man  diligent  in his business?  he shall stand  before  kings;  he shall not stand  before  mean  [men]. 

What does Proverbs 22:29 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The quality of a person"s work, not his bribes or flattery, will ultimately determine how his career progresses. Therefore a person should seek to improve his or her skills.
"Anyone who puts his workmanship before his prospects towers above the thrusters and climbers of the adjacent paragraphs." [1]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 22

1  A good name is more desirable than great wealth

What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:29 mean?

Do you see a man [who] excels in his work before kings He will stand not He will stand before unknown [men] -
חָזִ֡יתָ אִ֤ישׁ ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר ؟ בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ לִֽפְנֵֽי־ מְלָכִ֥ים יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־ יִ֝תְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵ֥י חֲשֻׁכִּֽים פ

חָזִ֡יתָ  Do  you  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָזָה  
Sense: to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide.
אִ֤ישׁ ׀  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מָ֘הִ֤יר  [who]  excels 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מָהִיר  
Sense: quick, prompt, skilled, ready.
؟ בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ  in  his  work 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.
לִֽפְנֵֽי־  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
מְלָכִ֥ים  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יִתְיַצָּ֑ב  He  will  stand 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָצַב 
Sense: to place, set, stand, set or station oneself, present oneself.
יִ֝תְיַצֵּב  He  will  stand 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָצַב 
Sense: to place, set, stand, set or station oneself, present oneself.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
חֲשֻׁכִּֽים  unknown  [men] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חָשֹׁךְ  
Sense: obscure, insignificant, low.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation