The Meaning of Proverbs 3:28 Explained

Proverbs 3:28

KJV: Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

YLT: Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.

Darby: Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.

ASV: Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Say  not unto thy neighbour,  Go,  and come again,  and to morrow  I will give;  when thou hast  it by thee. 

What does Proverbs 3:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 3:27-35 - The Counsels Of Experience.
Here are many duties! Be generous! Of course we must discriminate-to whom it is due; and we must be prudent-when it is in the power of thine hand, Proverbs 3:27. Moreover, be prompt, Proverbs 3:28. Don't stir up strife or take a mean advantage, Proverbs 3:29-30. In the presence of the prosperity of the violent and evil man, repress envy and recall Psalms 37:1-40.
The word translated secret in Proverbs 3:32 should be rendered "friendship." See Psalms 25:14. Remember that Jesus calls us into this sacred inner circle, John 15:15. Count on God blessing your home-life, Proverbs 3:33. Be lowly and claim your great inheritance, Proverbs 3:34-35. See Matthew 5:3.
We are next admitted into an ancient Hebrew home, Proverbs 4:1-9. We can hear the old patriarch advising his son, with deep and fond anxiety, that he should make the best of his life. What a difference would come over the land if fathers spoke more often like this! But to speak thus needs a background of noble living. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 3

1  various exhortations
13  The gain of wisdom
27  Exhortation to goodness
33  the different state of the wicked and upright

What do the individual words in Proverbs 3:28 mean?

Not do say - to your neighbor do and come back and tomorrow I will give [it] and when [you have] it with you
אַל־ תֹּ֘אמַ֤ר [לרעיך] (לְרֵֽעֲךָ֨ ׀) לֵ֣ךְ וָ֭שׁוּב וּמָחָ֥ר אֶתֵּ֗ן וְיֵ֣שׁ אִתָּֽךְ

תֹּ֘אמַ֤ר  do  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
[לרעיך]  - 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
(לְרֵֽעֲךָ֨ ׀)  to  your  neighbor 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
וָ֭שׁוּב  and  come  back 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וּמָחָ֥ר  and  tomorrow 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: מָחָר  
Sense: tomorrow, in time to come, in the future.
אֶתֵּ֗ן  I  will  give  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
וְיֵ֣שׁ  and  when  [you  have]  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
אִתָּֽךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.