The Meaning of Proverbs 16:28 Explained

Proverbs 16:28

KJV: A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

YLT: A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.

Darby: A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.

ASV: A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A froward  man  soweth  strife:  and a whisperer  separateth  chief friends. 

What does Proverbs 16:28 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 16

1  The Plans of the heart

What do the individual words in Proverbs 16:28 mean?

A man perverse sows strife and a whisperer separates the [best] of friends
אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן‪‬ מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף

אִ֣ישׁ  A  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת  perverse 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תַּהְפֻּכֹות  
Sense: perversity, perverse thing.
יְשַׁלַּ֣ח  sows 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
מָד֑וֹן  strife 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָדֹון  
Sense: strife, contention.
וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן‪‬  and  a  whisperer 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָגַן  
Sense: to murmur, whisper.
מַפְרִ֥יד  separates 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּרַד  
Sense: to separate, divide.
אַלּֽוּף  the  [best]  of  friends 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַלּוּף 
Sense: tame, docile.