The Meaning of Proverbs 20:21 Explained

Proverbs 20:21

KJV: An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

YLT: An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.

Darby: An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

ASV: An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

Discover Proverbs 20:21

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Proverbs 20:21?

MEANING: What does Proverbs 20:21 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:21 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Proverbs 20:21?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An inheritance  [may be] gotten hastily  {08675;0973:08794} at the beginning;  but the end  thereof shall not be blessed. 

What does Proverbs 20:21 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The inheritance in view evidently comes prematurely-by request or by dishonesty (cf. Proverbs 19:26; Luke 15:12). In either case, the consequence is often lack of divine blessing.
"Such wealth may be squandered and often squelches initiative and work." [1]

Context Summary

Proverbs 20:16-30 - "the Glory Of Young Men"
What a wonderful thought is given in Proverbs 20:27! We stand like a row of unlighted candles until God's Spirit kindles us. Has the Divine Nature ever bent over your nature, communicating to it its glow and fire? If so, be very careful that no puff of wind shall extinguish that sacred spark; and see that it is supplied with the daily nutriment it requires. The whole paragraph seems to indicate the clear shining of this light, which must not be hidden under a bushel, but placed on the stand, that it may give light to all who come in. So let your light shine that men may admire neither the lamp-stand nor the wick, but the glory of the light of God radiating from you.
Such a soul will be true, Proverbs 20:17; will be wise, Proverbs 20:18; will eschew tale-bearing and flattery, Proverbs 20:19; will honor the parents that gave it birth, Proverbs 20:20; will win a good inheritance by patient industry, Proverbs 20:21; will wait on the salvation of God, Proverbs 20:22; will accept God's guidance, Proverbs 20:24; will follow mercy and truth, Proverbs 20:28; will be strong, and pure, and faithful. Such should be the glory of all young men and maidens if their old age shall be beautiful, Proverbs 20:29. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 20

1  Proper Living

What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:21 mean?

An inheritance - gained hastily at the beginning and at the end not will be blessed
נַ֭חֲלָה [מבחלת] (מְבֹהֶ֣לֶת) בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ לֹ֣א תְבֹרָֽךְ

נַ֭חֲלָה  An  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
[מבחלת]  - 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular
(מְבֹהֶ֣לֶת)  gained  hastily 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular
Root: בָּחַל 
Sense: to loathe, abhor, feel loathing.
בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה  at  the  beginning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ  and  at  the  end 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אַחֲרִית  
Sense: after part, end.
תְבֹרָֽךְ  will  be  blessed 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 20:21?

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Similar Scriptures for Proverbs 20:21

Proverbs 13:22 [4]
Proverbs 23:4 [4]
Proverbs 28:8 [3]
Proverbs 28:20 [3]
Proverbs 28:22 [3]
Zechariah 5:4 [2]
Habakkuk 2:6 [2]
Job 27:16-17 [2]
Malachi 2:2 [2]
1 Timothy 6:9 [2]
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