The Meaning of Proverbs 23:34 Explained

Proverbs 23:34

KJV: Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

YLT: And thou hast been as one lying down in the heart of the sea, And as one lying down on the top of a mast.

Darby: and thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, and as he that lieth down upon the top of a mast:

ASV: Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down  in the midst  of the sea,  or as he that lieth  upon the top  of a mast. 

What does Proverbs 23:34 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 23

1  Consider carefully what is before you

What do the individual words in Proverbs 23:34 mean?

And Yes you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea Or like one who lies at the top of the mast [saying]
וְ֭הָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵ֣ב בְּלֶב־ יָ֑ם וּ֝כְשֹׁכֵ֗ב בְּרֹ֣אשׁ חִבֵּֽל

וְ֭הָיִיתָ  And  Yes  you  will  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּשֹׁכֵ֣ב  like  one  who  lies  down 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
בְּלֶב־  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יָ֑ם  of  the  sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
וּ֝כְשֹׁכֵ֗ב  Or  like  one  who  lies 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.
בְּרֹ֣אשׁ  at  the  top 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
חִבֵּֽל  of  the  mast  [saying] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חִבֵּל  
Sense: mast (meaning uncertain).