The Meaning of Proverbs 28:19 Explained

Proverbs 28:19

KJV: He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

YLT: Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied with bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled with poverty.

Darby: He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless shall have poverty enough.

ASV: He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons'shall have poverty enough.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that tilleth  his land  shall have plenty  of bread:  but he that followeth  after vain  [persons] shall have poverty enough. 

What does Proverbs 28:19 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 28

1  general observations of impiety and integrity

What do the individual words in Proverbs 28:19 mean?

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread but he who follows frivolity will have enough poverty
עֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֥ף רֵ֝קִ֗ים יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ רִֽישׁ

עֹבֵ֣ד  He  who  tills 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
אַ֭דְמָתוֹ  his  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־  will  have  plenty 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂבַע  
Sense: to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited.
לָ֑חֶם  of  bread 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
וּמְרַדֵּ֥ף  but  he  who  follows 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
רֵ֝קִ֗ים  frivolity 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רֵיק  
Sense: empty, vain.
יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־  will  have  enough 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂבַע  
Sense: to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited.
רִֽישׁ  poverty 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֵישׁ  
Sense: poverty.