The Meaning of Proverbs 28:4 Explained

Proverbs 28:4

KJV: They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

YLT: Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.

Darby: They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.

ASV: They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They that forsake  the law  praise  the wicked:  but such as keep  the law  contend  with them. 

What does Proverbs 28:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:4 mean?

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked but such as keep the law contend with them -
עֹזְבֵ֣י ת֭וֹרָה יְהַֽלְל֣וּ רָשָׁ֑ע וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י ת֝וֹרָ֗ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ בָֽם פ

עֹזְבֵ֣י  Those  who  forsake 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
ת֭וֹרָה  the  law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
יְהַֽלְל֣וּ  praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
רָשָׁ֑ע  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י  but  such  as  keep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
ת֝וֹרָ֗ה  the  law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
יִתְגָּ֥רוּ  contend 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גָּרָה  
Sense: to cause strife, stir up, contend, meddle, strive, be stirred up.
בָֽם  with  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation