Proverbs 12:9
WEB
Better is he who is little known, and has a servant, than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
BSB
Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.
KJV
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H2896
a n-m n-f — good
Derivation: from 2895;
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
KJV: beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, × most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
n.m — a good thing
טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare
1. welfare, prosperity, happiness
2. good things
3. good = benefit
4. moral good
adj — pleasant
טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good
1. pleasant, agreeable to the senses
2. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
3. good, excellent, of its kind
4. good, rich, valuable in estimation
5. good, appropriate, becoming
6. c. מִן compar. = better
7. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
8. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
9. good, kind, benign
10. good (ethical), right
n.f — welfare
טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good
1. welfare, prosperity, happiness
2. good things
3. bounty, good
H7034
v — be light, rapid, be, hold, in contempt
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only (be [causatively, hold] in contempt)
KJV: base, contemn, despise, lightly esteem, set light, seem vile.
vb — be lightly esteemed
[קָלָה] vb. Niph. be lightly esteemed, dishonoured
Hiph. treat with contempt, dishonour
H5650
n-m — servant
Derivation: from 5647;
a servant
KJV: × bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
n.m — slave
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
1. slave, servant of household
2. Subjects, of chief
3. Servants, worshippers of God
4. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
5. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
6. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
7. Phrases
H3513
v — be heavy, burdensome, severe, dull, numerous, rich, honorable, make weighty
Derivation: or כָּבֵד; a primitive root;
to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses)
KJV: abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, × be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, × more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.
vb — be heavy
כָּבֵד vb. be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
Qal
1. be heavy, in weight
2. heavy, insensible, dull
3. be honoured
Niph.
1. pass.
a. be made heavy fr. abundance
b. be honoured, enjoy honour, of man
2. medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God
Pi.
1. make heavy, insensible
2. make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.
Pu. be made honourable, honoured
Hiph.
1. make heavy
2. make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears
3. cause to be honoured
Hithp.
1. make oneself heavy, dense, numerous
2. honour oneself
H2638
a — lacking, without
Derivation: from 2637;
lacking; hence, without
KJV: destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want.
adj — needy
חָסֵר adj. needy, lacking, in want of
H3899
n-m — food, bread, grain
Derivation: from 3898; See also 1036
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
KJV: (shew-) bread, × eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.
n.m — bread
לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food
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Verse 9
Proverbs 12:9
Note, 1. It is the folly of some that they covet to make a great figure abroad, take place, and take state, as persons of quality, and yet want necessaries at home, and, if their debts were paid, would not be worth a morsel of bread, nay, perhaps, pinch their bellies to put it on their backs, that they may appear very gay, because fine feathers make fine birds. 2. The condition and character of those is every way better who content themselves in a lower sphere, where they are despised for the plainness of their dress and the meanness of their post, that they may be able to afford themselves, not only necessaries, but conveniences, in their own houses, not only bread, but a servant to attend them and take some of their work off their hands. Those that contrive to live plentifully and comfortably at home are to be preferred before those that affect nothing so much as to appear splendid abroad, though they have not wherewithal to maintain their appearance, whose hearts are unhumbled when their condition is low.