Proverbs 23:16 — Word Study
WLCוְתַעְלֹ֥זְנָה כִלְיוֹתָ֑י בְּדַבֵּ֥ר שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יךָ מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
BSAMy inmost beingkilyâh [innermost being, heart] will rejoiceʻâlaz▸ [exult, jump for joy] when your lipssâphâh [language, words] speakdâbar [declare, utter] what is rightmêyshâr [upright, just, righteous]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְתַעְלֹ֥זְנָה | so they may rejoice | Conjunction, verb qal third person feminine plural |
| כִלְיוֹתָ֑י | kidneys my | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| בְּדַבֵּ֥ר | when speak | Preposition, verb piel infinitive construct common |
| שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יךָ | lips your | Noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ | uprightness | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. |
| KJV | Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. |
| ASV | Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things. |
| YLT | And my reins exult when thy lips speak uprightly. |
| WEB | Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. |
| BBE | And my thoughts in me will be full of joy when your lips say right things. |
Where they part company is in the nuances of the surrounding words, but they all maintain the core idea of joy in response to righteous speech.
One main clause with a subordinate clause indicating the condition for the joy expressed.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 23:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom and Righteous Speechgenerated
Proverbs 23:16 is situated in a passage where a father instructs his son on the value of wisdom and the importance of speaking what is right. The surrounding verses emphasize the emotional bond between the speaker and the listener, highlighting how wise speech brings joy to the heart.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 8:6 | Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. |
| 2 | Ephesians 4:29 | Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. |
| 3 | Ephesians 5:4 | Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. |
| 4 | Colossians 4:4 | Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should. |
| 5 | James 3:2 | We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָלַז, ve.ta'.Lo.ze.nahgenerated
The verb עָלַז (alaz) is a primitive root meaning to exult or rejoice. It conveys a sense of jumping for joy and is often used to express exuberant joy. The parsing as a verb in the third person feminine plural indicates that it is the subject of the sentence, referring to the speaker's innermost being.
This word captures the essence of emotional celebration, suggesting that the speaker's heart is filled with joy when the listener speaks truthfully. It emphasizes the profound impact of righteous words on relationships.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the meaning of עָלַז, with the BSB using rejoice, and the KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE also conveying similar sentiments.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תַעְלֹזְנָה governs the entire clause, indicating that the speaker's innermost being will rejoice. The structure emphasizes the connection between the speaker's emotional state and the action of the listener's speech.
The sentence is organized around the subject (the speaker's innermost being) and the action (the act of speaking what is right), which highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between righteous speech and emotional joy.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עָלַז with ἐνδιατρίψει, which suggests a similar meaning of joy but may carry a nuance of deeper emotional engagement. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the Hebrew concept of exultation in the context of speech.
This translation indicates a broader interpretation, emphasizing not just the act of rejoicing but also the depth of feeling associated with it.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 23:16 expresses that the speaker's innermost being will rejoice when the listener speaks what is right. This highlights the joy that comes from hearing truthful and righteous words, emphasizing the importance of wise speech.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a deep emotional response, indicating that the heart and mind are filled with joy due to the goodness of what is being spoken.
Righteous speech reflects wisdom and truth, which can uplift others and strengthen relationships, as emphasized in this verse.
By aligning your speech with truth and fairness, and by being mindful of the impact your words have on others.
The verse suggests that wisdom, particularly in speech, brings joy not only to the speaker but also to the listener, creating a positive emotional bond.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I felt joy from hearing someone speak truthfully?
- How can I practice speaking words that bring joy to others?
- What steps can I take to ensure my speech reflects wisdom and righteousness?
- How does understanding the emotional impact of my words change the way I communicate?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 23:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleYea, my reins shall rejoice,.... Which is only another phrase expressive of the same thing, and confirming the greatness of joy on the above occasion; not only his heart rejoiced, which was
Read John Gill on Proverbs 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryYea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. Yea, my reins (the seat of the affections) shall rejoice when thy lips speak right things.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI shall rejoice not only in show and profession, but inwardly, and with all my soul.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) My reins shall rejoice.—These being represented in Hebrew poetry as the seat of the deepest affections, answering to “heart” in Proverbs 23:15. (Comp. Psalms 7:9; Jeremiah 12:2; Revelation 2:23.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 23 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15, 16. Heart and reins are used interchangeably. Cp. Psalms 16:7; Psalms 17:3.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Tyndale line
Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.
Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
Yes, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
And my reynes shall reioyce, when thy lips speake righteous things.
Strictly literal
and my reins shall exult, when thy lips speak right things.
And my reins exult when thy lips speak uprightly.
And my reins exult when your lips speak uprightly.
And my reins shall exult when thy lips speak what is equitable.
my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
From the Latin
And my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips shall speak what is right.
Simplified
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
And my thoughts in me will be full of joy when your lips say right things.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads וְתַעְלֹזְנָה כִלְיוֹתָי בְּדַבֵּר שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יךָ מֵישָׁרִֽים׃, while the Septuagint matches three of the five words. This indicates a general agreement on the core message, though the Septuagint's wording and structure differ.
וְתַעְלֹ֥זְנָה כִלְיוֹתָ֑י בְּדַבֵּ֥ר שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יךָ מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
3 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 23:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עָלַז (alaz) is a primitive root meaning to exult or rejoice. It conveys a sense of jumping for joy and encompasses feelings of triumph and joyfulness. The entries consistently emphasize its use in expressing exuberant joy.
[עָלַז] vb. exult
base
H5937 [עָלַז] exult
5937 `alaz aw-laz'
a primitive root; to jump for joy, i.e. exult:--be joyful,
rejoice, triumph.
עָלַז (a.laz) — to exult.
(Qal) to exult, rejoice, triumph
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3fp — Conjunction · verb qal third person feminine pluralHC/Vqu3fp
כִּלְיָה (kilyah) refers to kidneys in the plural form, primarily as a physical organ. It can also denote the seat of emotion and affection figuratively, and is used in the context of sacrificial animals. The term is derived from a related word for 'kidney' and is noted for its figurative use in describing the mind or interior self.
[כִּלְיָה] n.f. only pl. kidneys
base
H3629 [כִּלְיָה] only pl. kidneys
3629 kilyah kil-yaw'
feminine of 3627 (only in the plural); a kidney (as an
essential organ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior
self):--kidneys, reins.
see HEBREW for 03627
כִּלְיָה (kil.yah) — kidney.
1) kidneys
1a) of physical organ (lit.)
1b) of seat of emotion and affection (fig.)
1c) of sacrificial animals
2) (TWOT) reins
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp1bs
דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.
[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)
Qal speak
Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk
Pi. speak
Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for
Hithp. speaking this word
Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues
base
H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)
1696 dabar daw-bar'
a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used
figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive
sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,
declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,
say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,
use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.
: speak/tell/command
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.
: subdue
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.
: promise/declare
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct commonHR/Vpcc
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
N-fd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHNcfdc/Sp2ms
מֵישָׁר (meyshar) refers to concepts of evenness, uprightness, and equity. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be straight' and can figuratively denote prosperity or concord. The term is used in various contexts to express rectitude and fairness, often appearing in plural form with a singular sense.
[מֵישָׁר] n.m. evenness, uprightness, equity
base
H4339 [מֵישָׁר] evenness, uprightness, equity
4339 meyshar may-shawr'
from 3474; evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or
concord; also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude
(only in plural with singular sense; often
adverbially):--agreement, aright, that are equal, equity,
(things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly,
upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 03474
מֵישָׁר (me.shar) — uprightness.
1) evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity
1a) evenness, level, smoothness
1b) uprightness, equity
1c) rightly (as adv)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ See RIGHTEOUSNESS