Proverbs 24:10
Proverbs 24:10 in Multiple Translations
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength is small.
If you give up in times of trouble, it shows how weak you are.
If thou bee faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.
Thou hast shewed thyself weak in a day of adversity, Straitened is thy power,
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
If thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
If you act as though you are helpless when you have troubles, you are truly very weak.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 24:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 24:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הִ֭תְרַפִּיתָ
בְּ/י֥וֹם
צָרָ֗ה
צַ֣ר
כֹּחֶֽ/כָה
הִ֭תְרַפִּיתָ
râphâh
H7503
to slacken
V-Hithpael-Perf-2ms
בְּ/י֥וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
צָרָ֗ה
tsârâh
H6869
dearth
N-fs
צַ֣ר
tsar
H6862
narrow
Adj
כֹּחֶֽ/כָה
kôach
H3581
reptile
N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 24:10
הִ֭תְרַפִּיתָ
râphâh
H7503
"to slacken"
V-Hithpael-Perf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to slacken or relax, and is used in many contexts, such as feeling disheartened or abandoning something. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in Psalms and Proverbs. The word can also mean to let go or be idle.
Definition: 1) to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sink down 1a2) to sink, drop 1a3) to sink, relax, abate 1a4) to relax, withdraw 1b) (Niphal) idle (participle) 1c) (Piel) to let drop 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake 1d2) to let go 1d3) to refrain, let alone 1d4) to be quiet 1e) (Hithpael) to show oneself slack
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: abate, cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak(-en). See H7495 (רָפָא). See also: Exodus 4:26; Nehemiah 6:3; Psalms 37:8.
בְּ/י֥וֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
צָרָ֗ה
tsârâh
H6869
"dearth"
N-fs
A vexer is someone who causes trouble or distress, like a rival wife, used in the Bible to describe relationships or situations that cause anguish or affliction, as seen in the book of Genesis.
Definition: death, destitution
Usage: Occurs in 72 OT verses. KJV: adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. See also: Genesis 35:3; Psalms 116:3; Psalms 9:10.
צַ֣ר
tsar
H6862
"narrow"
Adj
This word means hard or narrow, often referring to trouble or a tight spot, like an adversary or affliction. It can also mean a small stone or pebble, such as flint, and is used in various biblical contexts to describe challenges.
Definition: narrow, tight
Usage: Occurs in 107 OT verses. KJV: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble. See also: Genesis 14:20; Psalms 89:24; Psalms 3:2.
כֹּחֶֽ/כָה
kôach
H3581
"reptile"
N-ms | Suff
Koach means strength or power, referring to human, angelic, or God's might. It can also describe the strength of animals or the produce of soil.
Definition: 1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean 1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown
Usage: Occurs in 121 OT verses. KJV: ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth. See also: Genesis 4:12; Job 36:5; Psalms 22:16.
Study Notes — Proverbs 24:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 24:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 24:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 24:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 24:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
- Sermons on Proverbs 24:10
Context — Saying 25
8He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
10If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. 12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 40:28–31 | Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out. He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. |
| 2 | Ephesians 3:13 | So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 51:46 | Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year— and then another the next year— of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler. |
| 4 | Hebrews 12:3–5 | Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. |
| 5 | 1 Samuel 27:1 | David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.” |
| 6 | Job 4:5 | But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed. |
| 7 | 2 Corinthians 4:1 | Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart. |
| 8 | Revelation 2:3 | Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name. |
| 9 | Revelation 2:13 | I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells. |
| 10 | John 4:8 | (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) |
Proverbs 24:10 Summary
This verse, Proverbs 24:10, is saying that if we give up when things get tough, it shows that we're not very strong. It's like when we're facing a big problem, and we feel like we just can't handle it - that's when we need to remember that God is our strength, as seen in Psalms 28:7, where He is our strength and shield. We can trust Him to help us get through it, just like the Bible says in Philippians 4:13, where we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. By relying on God's power, we can find the strength to keep going, even when things seem impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'faint in the day of distress'?
To faint in the day of distress means to give up or lose heart when faced with trouble or hardship, as seen in Proverbs 24:10, which is similar to what the Psalmist experienced in Psalms 42:5, where he felt downcast and disturbed within himself.
How does this verse relate to my everyday life?
This verse reminds us that our strength is revealed in how we respond to difficult situations, as noted in Proverbs 24:10, and that we should strive to persevere and trust in God, as encouraged in Romans 5:3-5, where our sufferings produce perseverance, character, and hope.
What is the significance of the phrase 'how small is your strength'?
The phrase 'how small is your strength' in Proverbs 24:10 emphasizes that if we cannot withstand hardships, our strength is limited, which is why we need to rely on God's power, as stated in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where His power is made perfect in our weakness.
How can I apply this verse to my spiritual life?
Applying this verse to our spiritual life means recognizing our need for God's strength and power in times of distress, as seen in Isaiah 40:29, where He gives strength to the weary, and seeking to develop perseverance and trust in Him, as encouraged in James 1:2-4, where the testing of our faith produces steadfastness.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I tend to 'faint in the day of distress', and how can I seek God's strength in those situations?
- How does my response to hardship reveal my true character, and what can I do to develop a stronger, more resilient faith?
- What role does trust in God play in helping me persevere through difficult times, and how can I cultivate a deeper trust in Him?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my reliance on God's power, rather than my own strength, in the face of challenges and hardships?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 24:10
[If] thou faint in the day of adversity,.... When under bodily afflictions, stripping providences, reduced to great straits and wants; or under the violent persecutions of men, which is sometimes the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 24:10
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
If thou faint; if thou art impatient, and unable to bear sufferings; if thy resolution flag, and thou givest way to despondency or dejection of mind. Is small, Heb. is narrow; it lives in a little compass; it is as strait as thy condition is; for there is an elegant allusion in the Hebrew words. The sense is, This is a sign that thou hast but little Christian strength or courage, for that is best known by adversity.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
Proverbs 24:10 [If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.Ver. 10. If thou faint in the day of adversity.] Afflictions try what sap we have, as hard weather tries what health. Withered leaves fall off in a wind: rotten boughs break when weight is laid on them; so do earthen vessels when set empty to the fire. "As is the man, so is his strength," said they to Gideon. Joseph’ s "bow abode in strength, though the archers sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him; and the arms of his hand were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob."
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
(10) If thou faint in the day of adversity.—And prove unable to help thyself or others; an exhortation to courage (comp. Hebrews 12:12). A “more excellent way” is shown in the following verse.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
Verse 10. If thou faint] If thou give way to discouragement and despair in the day of adversity - time of trial or temptation. Thy strength is small.] צר כחכה tsar cochachah, thy strength is contracted. So the old MS. Bible excellently: Gif sliden thou dispeire, in the dai of anguyfs, schal be made litil thy strengthe. In times of trial we should endeavour to be doubly courageous; when a man loses his courage, his strength avails him nothing.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 24:10
10. faint] Or, art slack. The Heb. word is the same as in Proverbs 18:9. is small] as is proved to be the case by thy “fainting” under pressure. But the proverb may mean, because of thy fainting thy strength will be small; want of courage will cause want of strength to meet the emergency. So Vulg., imminuetur fortitudo tua; and Maurer, impar eris ferendis malis. Comp. “Let us not be weary (ἐγκακῶμεν, turn cowards, lose heart, Bp Lightfoot) in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not,” Galatians 6:9; where see note in this Series.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 24:10
10. If thou faint — Adversity tests the moral strength of men. To faint under trial is a sign of moral weakness. The interpreters differ as to the exact sense.
Sermons on Proverbs 24:10
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Secrets of the Heart by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of standing before God's judgment seat and giving an account of our actions. He highlights that as Christians, we will face t |
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(Proverbs) ch.24:1 - 34 by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the dangers of worldliness and the importance of wisdom in building our lives and communities. He warns against the gradual intoxication of our hearts by worl |
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Rescue the Perishing by Joseph Chauke | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the urgency of preaching the gospel without compromise. He highlights the spiritual blindness that the God of this world has caused, regardl |
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Just Preach the Gospel by Peter Hammond | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of standing firm in the Word of God during times of crisis. He references Proverbs 24:10-12, which speaks about the need for |
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Satan by Leonard Ravenhill | Leonard Ravenhill addresses the pervasive influence of Satan in the world, emphasizing the need for believers to recognize their adversary and the spiritual warfare they face. He h |
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Of Christian Fortitude. by John Gill | John Gill emphasizes the importance of Christian fortitude, which is characterized by a firm and courageous spirit that aligns with God's will. He distinguishes true Christian fort |
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Dangers in the Way #2 "Dangers of Prosperity and Adversity" by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer addresses the dual dangers of prosperity and adversity in the Christian life, emphasizing that both can lead to spiritual peril. He illustrates how prosperity can foster |