Proverbs 25:17 — Word Study
WLCהֹקַ֣ר רַ֭גְלְךָ מִבֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ פֶּן־ יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃
BSASeldomyâqar [rarely, infrequently] set footregel [tread, step] in your neighbor’srêaʻ [friend's, companion's] housebayith [dwelling place, home] lestpên [beware that, be cautious] he grow wearysâbaʻ▸ [be satisfied, have too much] and hate yousânêʼ■ [feel intense dislike, hostility]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֹקַ֣ר | make rare | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person masculine singular |
| רַ֭גְלְךָ | foot your | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| מִבֵּ֣ית | from [the] house of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| רֵעֶ֑ךָ | neighbor your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| פֶּן־ | lest | Particle |
| יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ | he should be surfeited with you | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃ | and he will hate you | Verb qal sequential perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you. |
| KJV | Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. |
| ASV | Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee. |
| YLT | Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee. |
| WEB | Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you. |
| BBE | Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate. |
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The main clause presents the advice, followed by a cautionary clause that indicates a potential consequence.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָקַר
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 25:17
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 — Practical Wisdom in Relationshipsgenerated
Proverbs 25:17 offers counsel on maintaining healthy relationships with neighbors. It suggests that infrequent visits can prevent weariness and resentment, emphasizing the importance of moderation in social interactions. This is part of a broader collection of proverbs that provide guidance on how to navigate personal relationships wisely.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 19:2–3 | and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” |
| 2 | Judges 19:18–21 | The Levite replied, “We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD; but no one has taken me into his home, |
| 3 | Romans 15:24 | I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הֹקַ֣ר, ho.Kargenerated
The verb יָקַר (yaqar) means to make rare or precious. In this context, it advises to make your visits infrequent, suggesting that being valued is linked to rarity.
The Hiphil form indicates a causative action, implying that one should actively ensure their presence is not overwhelming. This reflects a broader theme in Proverbs of balancing relationships.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, conveying the idea of infrequent visits to a neighbor's house.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb הֹקַ֣ר (make rare) governs the main clause, with several phrases attached: a noun phrase for the object, a prepositional phrase indicating location, and a cautionary clause introduced by פֶּן (lest).
The structure emphasizes the cautionary nature of the advice, with the main action of making visits rare leading to the potential consequences of being hated.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הֹקַ֣ר with σὸν (your foot), which captures the essence of the Hebrew while focusing on the action of stepping into a neighbor's house.
This choice reflects a direct translation of the action, aligning with the cautionary intent of the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 25:17 advises that you should not visit your neighbor too often. If you do, they may grow tired of you and even dislike you. This wisdom highlights the importance of moderation in relationships.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to visit infrequently, so as not to overstay your welcome and maintain a good relationship.
Overstaying can lead to weariness and resentment, damaging the relationship.
Consider how often you visit friends or family and whether those visits are enjoyable or burdensome.
Proverbs often emphasizes balance, such as knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I ensure my visits to friends and neighbors are enjoyable and not overwhelming?
- What are some signs that I might be overstaying my welcome?
- In what ways can I show appreciation for my neighbors without frequent visits?
- How does this proverb reflect broader themes of wisdom in relationships?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this proverb, emphasizing the importance of moderation in visits to maintain affection.
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house, etc. Although you find the conversation or visitation of any neighbor sweeter than honey, it is better, nevertheless, that by coming less often, you make him always love your coming,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 25 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 25:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWithdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house,.... Not but that it is commendable to be neighbourly and friendly, or for one neighbour to visit another; but then it should not be very frequent; a man
Read John Gill on Proverbs 25 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWithdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. Withdraw (Hebrew, Make rare) thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 25 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWithdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’ s house, visit him not too frequently nor unseasonably, lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee, as men are apt to loathe those meats of which they surfeit, as was now observed, .
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 25 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 25:17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’ s house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee. Ver. 17. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’ s house.] This is a honey that thou mayest surfeit on, therefore make thy foot precious, or rare (so the original hath it) at thy neighbour’ s house, by too oft frequenting whereof thou mayest become cheap, nay, burdensome. At first thou mayest be Oreach, as the Hebrew proverb hath it, i.e., welcome as a traveller that stays for a day. At length thou wilt be Toveach, a charge, a burden. And lastly, by long tarrying, thou shalt be Boreach, an outcast, hunted out of the house that thou hast so immodestly haunted. It is a very great fault…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 25 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Withdraw thy foot] Another proverb will illustrate this: "Too much familiarity breeds contempt."
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 25 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. Withdraw thy foot] So Vulg., subtrahe pedem tuum. Lit. make rare thy foot. The R.V. adopts the marginal reading of A.V., Let thy foot be seldom in. σπάνιονεἴσαγεσὸνπόδαπρὸςσεαυτοῦφίλον, LXX.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 25 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet thy foot be seldom in the house of thy friend, etc. Though thy visits were sweet as honey, he may soon learn to loathe them.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 25 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17. Withdraw thy foot — Rather, withhold: literally, make it rare or precious: let your visits be so rare that they will be valued. “There may be some connexion intended between this and the preceding.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 25 →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
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.
Tyndale line
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Strictly literal
Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee and hate thee.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, || Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee.
Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often, he may become tired of you and hate you.
From the Latin
Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having his fill he hate thee.
Simplified
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's house, or he may get tired of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
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 and the Septuagint agree closely, with six of the seven words matching. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse's meaning across these traditions.
הֹקַ֣ר רַ֭גְלְךָ מִבֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ פֶּן־ יִ֝שְׂבָּעֲךָ֗ וּשְׂנֵאֶֽךָ׃
6 of the 7 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 25:17
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.
יָקַר (yaqar) means to be precious or valued, indicating something that is esteemed or costly. It can also refer to the act of making something precious. The term appears in various contexts, emphasizing its figurative meaning of value and rarity, particularly in the Hiphil form, which suggests causing something to be regarded as precious.
[יָקַר] vb. be precious, prized, appraised
Qal
be precious
be appraised
Hiph. I will make men more rare (lit. precious) than fine gold
base
H3365 יָקַר be precious, prized, appraised
3365 yaqar yaw-kar'
a primitive root; properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e.
(figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare
(figuratively, to inhibit):--be (make) precious, be prized, be
set by, withdraw.
יָקַר (ya.qar) — be precious.
1) to esteem, be prized, be valuable, be precious, be costly, be appraised
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be precious, be highly valued, be esteemed, be costly
1a2) to be appraised
1b) (Hiphil) to make something precious
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singularHVhv2ms
רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.
רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot
foot
three times (feet, paces)
base
H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot
. three times (feet, paces)
7272 regel reh'-gel
from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a
step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X
according as, X after, X coming, X follow,
((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X
journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.
see HEBREW for 07270
רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.
1) foot
1a) foot, leg
1b) of God (anthropomorphic)
1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table
1d) according to the pace of (with prep)
1e) three times (feet, paces)
Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
base
H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow
7453 rea` ray'-ah
or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less
close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,
neighbour, X (an-)other.
see HEBREW for 0reya2
see HEBREW for 07462
רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.
1) friend, companion, fellow, another person
1a) friend, intimate
1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)
1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
פֶּן־ (pen) is a conjunction meaning 'lest' or 'not,' often used to express a warning or fear of a potential negative outcome. It is derived from a root meaning 'removal' and is typically found in constructions that indicate a precautionary context. The entries consistently emphasize its adverbial use in cautionary statements.
פֶּן־ 133 (alw. with Makkeph) conj. (adverting or deprecating), lest
with impf.
with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place
base
H6435 פֶּן־ (alw. with Makkeph) (adverting or deprecating), lest . with impf.
. with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place
6435 pen pane
from 6437; properly, removal; used only (in the construction)
adverb as conjunction, lest:--(lest) (peradventure),
that...not.
see HEBREW for 06437
פֶּן־ (pen) — lest.
conj
1) lest, not, beware lest
adv
2) lest
Conj — ParticleHTc
שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.
[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited
Qal 79
be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
have in excess, be surfeited with
Niph. Pt. sated
Pi. satisfy
Hiph.
satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.
י׳ subj.
י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
enrich
sate, glut (with the undesired)
base
H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
. have in excess, be surfeited with
. Pt. sated
. satisfy
. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
. enrich
. sate, glut (with the undesired)
7646 saba` saw-bah'
or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill
to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,
fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty
of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.
1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be sated (with food)
1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)
1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with
1a3a) to be weary of (fig)
1b) (Piel) to satisfy
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to satisfy
1c2) to enrich
1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqi3ms/Sp2ms
שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
base
H8130 שָׂנֵא hate
8130 sane' saw-nay'
a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)
hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.
1) to hate, be hateful
1a) (Qal) to hate
1a1) of man
1a2) of God
1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)
1b) (Niphal) to be hated
1c) (Piel) hater (participle)
1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom
Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vqq3ms/Sp2ms