The Meaning of Proverbs 3:29 Explained

Proverbs 3:29

KJV: Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

YLT: Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.

Darby: Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

ASV: Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Devise  not evil  against thy neighbour,  seeing he dwelleth  securely  by thee. 

What does Proverbs 3:29 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 3:29 mean?

Not do devise against your neighbor evil for he dwells for safety's sake by you
אַל־ תַּחֲרֹ֣שׁ עַל־ רֵעֲךָ֣ רָעָ֑ה וְהֽוּא־ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב לָבֶ֣טַח אִתָּֽךְ

תַּחֲרֹ֣שׁ  do  devise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
עַל־  against 
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.
רֵעֲךָ֣  your  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
רָעָ֑ה  evil 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
וְהֽוּא־  for  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יוֹשֵׁ֖ב  dwells 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
לָבֶ֣טַח  for  safety's  sake 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּטַח  
Sense: security, safety adv.
אִתָּֽךְ  by  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.