The Meaning of Proverbs 28:14 Explained

Proverbs 28:14

KJV: Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

YLT: O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.

Darby: Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.

ASV: Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Happy  [is] the man  that feareth  alway:  but he that hardeneth  his heart  shall fall  into mischief. 

What does Proverbs 28:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Fearing sin is in view here, not having a timid disposition or fearing God. [1] The contrast of hardening the heart supports this view.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:14 mean?

Blessed [is] the man who is reverent always but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity
אַשְׁרֵ֣י אָ֭דָם מְפַחֵ֣ד תָּמִ֑יד וּמַקְשֶׁ֥ה לִ֝בּ֗וֹ יִפּ֥וֹל בְּרָעָֽה

אַשְׁרֵ֣י  Blessed  [is] 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֶשֶׁר 
Sense: happiness, blessedness.
אָ֭דָם  the  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
מְפַחֵ֣ד  who  is  reverent 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּחַד  
Sense: to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread.
תָּמִ֑יד  always 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.
וּמַקְשֶׁ֥ה  but  he  who  hardens 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: קָשָׁה  
Sense: to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh.
לִ֝בּ֗וֹ  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יִפּ֥וֹל  will  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בְּרָעָֽה  into  calamity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.