The Meaning of Proverbs 29:24 Explained

Proverbs 29:24

KJV: Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

YLT: Whoso is sharing with a thief is hating his own soul, Execration he heareth, and telleth not.

Darby: Whoso shareth with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth the adjuration, and declareth not.

ASV: Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whoso is partner  with a thief  hateth  his own soul:  he heareth  cursing,  and bewrayeth  [it] not. 

What does Proverbs 29:24 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The bad thing about being a thief"s partner, is that when the thief gets caught, and the authorities haul his partner into court, the accomplice finds himself in a "no win" situation. If he defends his partner, he shares his guilt, but if he says nothing (or pleads the fifth amendment), his accusers assume he shares his guilt. Many a businessman has discovered this to his sorrow.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 29

1  observations of public government
15  and of private
22  Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice and corruption

What do the individual words in Proverbs 29:24 mean?

Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life an oath he hears but nothing reveals
חוֹלֵ֣ק עִם־ גַּ֭נָּב שׂוֹנֵ֣א נַפְשׁ֑וֹ אָלָ֥ה יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יַגִּֽיד

חוֹלֵ֣ק  Whoever  is  a  partner 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.
גַּ֭נָּב  a  thief 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גַּנָּב  
Sense: thief.
שׂוֹנֵ֣א  hates 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
נַפְשׁ֑וֹ  his  own  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
אָלָ֥ה  an  oath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָלָה  
Sense: oath.
יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע  he  hears 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וְלֹ֣א  but  nothing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַגִּֽיד  reveals 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.