The Meaning of Proverbs 22:8 Explained

Proverbs 22:8

KJV: He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

YLT: Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.

Darby: He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.

ASV: He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that soweth  iniquity  shall reap  vanity:  and the rod  of his anger  shall fail. 

What does Proverbs 22:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse provides encouragement for the oppressed. The last line assures the sufferer that God will eventually break the oppressing rod of the person who sows iniquity.

Context Summary

Proverbs 22:1-16 - "he That Loveth Pureness Of Heart"
Great riches are not always a great blessing. When they are held in trust for God, they afford the opportunity of giving a vast amount of happiness to the benefactor as well as to those benefited. But we recall other riches, which do not consist in what a man has, but in what he is. There are four levels of human experience-to have, to do, to know, and to be-and these in their order are like iron, silver, gold, precious stones.
Some of these riches are enumerated here: a good name and loving favor, Proverbs 22:1; the faith that hides in God, Proverbs 22:3; true humility and godly fear, Proverbs 22:4; the child-heart, Proverbs 22:6; the beautiful eye and open hand, Proverbs 22:9; purity of heart and thought, Proverbs 22:11; alacrity and diligence, Proverbs 22:13. If only we would cultivate the inward graces and gifts of our soul-life, all who feel our influence would be proportionately enriched. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 22

1  A good name is more desirable than great wealth

What do the individual words in Proverbs 22:8 mean?

He who sows iniquity - will reap sorrow and the rod of his anger will fail
זוֹרֵ֣עַ עַ֭וְלָה [יקצור־] (יִקְצָר־) אָ֑וֶן וְשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָת֣וֹ יִכְלֶֽה

זוֹרֵ֣עַ  He  who  sows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: זָרַע  
Sense: to sow, scatter seed.
עַ֭וְלָה  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עָוֶל 
Sense: injustice, unrighteousness, wrong.
[יקצור־]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
(יִקְצָר־)  will  reap 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָצוּר 
Sense: to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved.
אָ֑וֶן  sorrow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָצוּר 
Sense: to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved.
וְשֵׁ֖בֶט  and  the  rod 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁבֶט  
Sense: rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe.
עֶבְרָת֣וֹ  of  his  anger 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֶבְרָה  
Sense: outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, arrogance.
יִכְלֶֽה  will  fail 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.