The Meaning of Proverbs 28:15 Explained

Proverbs 28:15

KJV: As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

YLT: A growling lion, and a ranging bear, Is the wicked ruler over a poor people.

Darby: A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

ASV: As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,'so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[As] a roaring  lion,  and a ranging  bear;  [so is] a wicked  ruler  over the poor  people. 

What does Proverbs 28:15 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:15 mean?

[Like] a lion roaring and a bear charging [Is] a ruler wicked over people poor
אֲרִי־ נֹ֭הֵם וְדֹ֣ב שׁוֹקֵ֑ק מֹשֵׁ֥ל רָ֝שָׁ֗ע עַ֣ל עַם־ דָּֽל

אֲרִי־  [Like]  a  lion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲרִי 
Sense: lion.
נֹ֭הֵם  roaring 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָהַם  
Sense: to growl, groan.
וְדֹ֣ב  and  a  bear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּב  
Sense: bear.
שׁוֹקֵ֑ק  charging 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁוקֵק 
Sense: to run, run about, rush, run to and fro, be eager or greedy or thirsty.
מֹשֵׁ֥ל  [Is]  a  ruler 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
רָ֝שָׁ֗ע  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
עַ֣ל  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עַם־  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
דָּֽל  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.