Proverbs 28:16
WEB
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
BSB
A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.
KJV
The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H5057
n-m — commander, front, honorable
Derivation: or נָגִד; from 5046;
a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
KJV: captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.
n.m — leader
נָגִיד n.m. leader (lit. prob. one in front), ruler, prince
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
H8394
n-m — intelligence, argument, caprice
Derivation: and (feminine) תְּבוּנָה; or תּוֹבֻנָה; from 995;
intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
KJV: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
n.f — understanding
תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding
1. the act
2. the faculty
3. the object of knowledge
4. personified as teacher.
H7227
a n-m — abundant
Derivation: by contracted from 7231;
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
n.m — chief
רַב 49 n.m. chief
adj — much
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
1. (oft. opp. מְעַט)
a.
(1). much: of substances
(2). esp. of collectives, numerous
b. pl. many
c. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
d. cstr. = abounding in
e. מִן comp. = more numerous than
f. רַב = abundant, enough
g. as adv. much, exceedingly
2. less oft. great
H4642
n-f — oppression
Derivation: from 6231;
oppression
KJV: oppression, × oppressor.
extortionate act
[מַעֲשַׁקָּה] extortionate act
H8130
v — hate
Derivation: a primitive root;
to hate (personally)
KJV: enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, × utterly.
vb — hate
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
H1215
n-m — plunder, gain
Derivation: from 1214;
plunder; by extension, gain (usually unjust)
KJV: covetousness, (dishonest) gain, lucre, profit.
n.m — gain made by violence
בֶ֫צַע n.m. gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit
H748
v — be, make, long
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)
KJV: defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, (out-, over-) live, tarry (long).
vb — be long
[אָרַךְ, אָרֵךְ] vb. be long, almost alw. of time
Qal be long
Hiph.
1. trans. prolong
2. intrans. grow long, continue long
H3117
n-m — day
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to be hot;
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
KJV: age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.
n.m — day
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
1. day, opp. night
2. Day as division of time
3. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
4. Pl. days of anyone
5. Days
6. יוֹם = time
7. Phrases
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Verse 16
Proverbs 28:16
Two things are here intimated to be the causes of the mal-administration of princes: - 1. The love of money, that root of all evil; for hating covetousness here stands opposed to oppression, according to Moses's character of good magistrates, men fearing God and hating covetousness (Exo 18:21), not only not being covetous, but hating it, and shaking the hands from the holding of bribes. A ruler that is covetous will neither do justly nor love mercy, but the people under him shall be bought and sold. 2. Want of consideration: He that hates covetousness shall prolong his government and peace, shall be happy in the affections of his people and the blessing of his God. It is as much the interest as the duty of princes to reign in righteousness. Oppressors therefore and tyrants are the greatest fools in the world; they want understanding; they do not consult their own honour, ease, and safety, but sacrifice all to their ambition of an absolute and arbitrary power. They might be much happier in the hearts of their subjects than in their necks or estates.
Cross-references: Exod 18:21