The Meaning of Proverbs 17:2 Explained

Proverbs 17:2

KJV: A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

YLT: A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.

Darby: A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

ASV: A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A wise  servant  shall have rule  over a son  that causeth shame,  and shall have part  of the inheritance  among  the brethren. 

What does Proverbs 17:2 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 17

1  Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked

What do the individual words in Proverbs 17:2 mean?

A servant wise will rule over a son who causes shame and among the brothers will share an inheritance
עֶֽבֶד־ מַשְׂכִּ֗יל יִ֭מְשֹׁל בְּבֵ֣ן מֵבִ֑ישׁ וּבְת֥וֹךְ אַ֝חִ֗ים יַחֲלֹ֥ק נַחֲלָֽה

עֶֽבֶד־  A  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל  wise 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
יִ֭מְשֹׁל  will  rule 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
בְּבֵ֣ן  over  a  son 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
מֵבִ֑ישׁ  who  causes  shame 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
וּבְת֥וֹךְ  and  among 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
אַ֝חִ֗ים  the  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
יַחֲלֹ֥ק  will  share 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.
נַחֲלָֽה  an  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.