The Meaning of Proverbs 27:23 Explained

Proverbs 27:23

KJV: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

YLT: Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,

Darby: Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds:

ASV: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Be thou diligent  to know  the state  of thy flocks,  [and] look  well  to thy herds. 

What does Proverbs 27:23 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As the family manager, a man needs to know what he owns, and what condition his possessions are in, to lead wisely. Moreover, he needs to care for what he owns in order to preserve his livelihood. Proverbs 27:24-27 go on, poetically, to advocate preserving one"s income.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 27

1  observations of self love
5  of true love
11  of care to avoid offenses
23  and of the household care

What do the individual words in Proverbs 27:23 mean?

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks [And] attend well to your herds
יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּ֭דַע פְּנֵ֣י צֹאנֶ֑ךָ שִׁ֥ית לִ֝בְּךָ֗ לַעֲדָרִֽים

יָדֹ֣עַ  Be  diligent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
תֵּ֭דַע  to  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
פְּנֵ֣י  the  state 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
צֹאנֶ֑ךָ  of  your  flocks 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
שִׁ֥ית  [And]  attend 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
לִ֝בְּךָ֗  well 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לַעֲדָרִֽים  to  your  herds 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵדֶר  
Sense: flock, herd.