The Meaning of Proverbs 14:28 Explained

Proverbs 14:28

KJV: In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

YLT: In the multitude of a people is the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.

Darby: In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the lack of people is the ruin of a prince.

ASV: In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In the multitude  of people  [is] the king's  honour:  but in the want  of people  [is] the destruction  of the prince. 

What does Proverbs 14:28 Mean?

Verse Meaning

It is a credit to a ruler when he rules over many people and they prosper and increase, but it is a discredit to him when his people decline in number and wealth. This is so because part of a governmental leader"s responsibility is to generate prosperity.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 14

1  A wise woman builds her house

What do the individual words in Proverbs 14:28 mean?

In a multitude of people [is] honor a king's but in the lack of people [is] the downfall of a prince
בְּרָב־ עָ֥ם הַדְרַת־ מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבְאֶ֥פֶס לְ֝אֹ֗ם מְחִתַּ֥ת רָזֽוֹן

בְּרָב־  In  a  multitude 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
עָ֥ם  of  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַדְרַת־  [is]  honor 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: הֲדָרָה  
Sense: adornment, glory.
מֶ֑לֶךְ  a  king's 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וּבְאֶ֥פֶס  but  in  the  lack 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
לְ֝אֹ֗ם  of  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
מְחִתַּ֥ת  [is]  the  downfall 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מְחִתָּה  
Sense: destruction, ruin, terror, a breaking.
רָזֽוֹן  of  a  prince 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָזׄון  
Sense: potentate, ruler.