The Meaning of Proverbs 17:11 Explained

Proverbs 17:11

KJV: An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

YLT: An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

Darby: An evil man seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

ASV: An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An evil  [man] seeketh  only rebellion:  therefore a cruel  messenger  shall be sent  against him. 

What does Proverbs 17:11 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 17

1  Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked

What do the individual words in Proverbs 17:11 mean?

Only rebellion seeks An evil [man] therefore a messenger cruel will be sent against him
אַךְ־ מְרִ֥י יְבַקֶּשׁ־ רָ֑ע וּמַלְאָ֥ךְ אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י יְשֻׁלַּח־ בּֽוֹ

אַךְ־  Only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
מְרִ֥י  rebellion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְרִי  
Sense: rebellion.
יְבַקֶּשׁ־  seeks 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
רָ֑ע  An  evil  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וּמַלְאָ֥ךְ  therefore  a  messenger 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַלְאָךְ  
Sense: messenger, representative.
אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י  cruel 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַכְזָרִי  
Sense: cruel.
יְשֻׁלַּח־  will  be  sent 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
בּֽוֹ  against  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular