The Meaning of Proverbs 21:14 Explained

Proverbs 21:14

KJV: A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

YLT: A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.

Darby: A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.

ASV: A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A gift  in secret  pacifieth  anger:  and a reward  in the bosom  strong  wrath. 

What does Proverbs 21:14 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:14 mean?

A gift in secret pacifies anger and a bribe behind the back wrath strong
מַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־ אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה

מַתָּ֣ן  A  gift 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַתָּן  
Sense: gifts, offerings, presents.
בַּ֭סֵּתֶר  in  secret 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵתֶר 
Sense: covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy.
יִכְפֶּה־  pacifies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּפָה  
Sense: (Qal) to sooth, subdue, pacify.
אָ֑ף  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
וְשֹׁ֥חַד  and  a  bribe 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁחַד  
Sense: present, bribe.
בַּ֝חֵ֗ק  behind  the  back 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹוק 
Sense: bosom, hollow, bottom, midst.
חֵמָ֥ה  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֵמָא 
Sense: heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles.
עַזָּֽה  strong 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עַז 
Sense: strong, mighty, fierce.