The Meaning of Proverbs 23:32 Explained

Proverbs 23:32

KJV: At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

YLT: Its latter end -- as a serpent it biteth, And as a basilisk it stingeth.

Darby: at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

ASV: At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

At the last  it biteth  like a serpent,  and stingeth  like an adder. 

What does Proverbs 23:32 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 23

1  Consider carefully what is before you

What do the individual words in Proverbs 23:32 mean?

At the last like a serpent it bites and like a viper stings
אַ֭חֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָ֣שׁ יִשָּׁ֑ךְ וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥י יַפְרִֽשׁ

אַ֭חֲרִיתוֹ  At  the  last 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַחֲרִית  
Sense: after part, end.
כְּנָחָ֣שׁ  like  a  serpent 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָחָשׁ  
Sense: serpent, snake.
יִשָּׁ֑ךְ  it  bites 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשַׁךְ 
Sense: to bite.
וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥י  and  like  a  viper 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶפַע 
Sense: poisonous serpent.
יַפְרִֽשׁ  stings 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַשׁ 
Sense: to make distinct, declare, distinguish, separate.