Proverbs 29:21 — Word Study
WLCמְפַנֵּ֣ק מִנֹּ֣עַר עַבְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝אַחֲרִית֗וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה מָנֽוֹן׃
BSAA servantʻebed [delicately brought up, indulged] pamperedpânaq△ [given special treatment, indulged] from his youthnôʻar [early years, childhood] will bringhâyâh▸ [become a cause of, result in] griefmânôwn△ [sorrow, pain] in the endʼachărîyth [at the last, in the future]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מְפַנֵּ֣ק | [one who] pampers | Verb, Piel, participle (active) masculine singular |
| מִנֹּ֣עַר | from youth | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| עַבְדּ֑וֹ | slave his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְ֝אַחֲרִית֗וֹ | and end his | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יִהְיֶ֥ה | it will be | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| מָנֽוֹן׃ | trouble | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end. |
| KJV | He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length. |
| ASV | He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last. |
| YLT | Whoso is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, [At] his latter end also he is continuator. |
| WEB | He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end. |
| BBE | If a servant is gently cared for from his early years, he will become a cause of sorrow in the end. |
Translations agree on the meaning and wording of the verse, emphasizing the consequences of pampering.
The main clause presents the subject and action, while the subordinate phrases provide context and the outcome.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּנַק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 6 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.
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 29:21
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 — The Consequences of Indulgencegenerated
Proverbs 29:21 warns about the dangers of pampering a servant from their youth, suggesting that such indulgence can lead to grief in the future. This verse fits within a series of proverbs that explore the nature of relationships and the outcomes of various behaviors, emphasizing the importance of proper upbringing.
Cross References
The Key Word — מְפַנֵּק, me.fa.Nekgenerated
The word מְפַנֵּק (mefa'nek) is a participle derived from the root פָּנַק (panaq), meaning to pamper or indulge. It describes someone who is treated with excessive care and special treatment, particularly in their formative years.
In this verse, it highlights the consequences of such indulgence, suggesting that a servant who has been pampered will ultimately lead to grief. The use of the participle indicates an ongoing state of being pampered, which shapes the servant's character and future behavior.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term pampered, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יִהְיֶ֥ה (yihyeh) governs the sentence, indicating what will result from the pampering. The structure includes a participial phrase מְפַנֵּק describing the subject, and a noun phrase מָנֽוֹן as the object, showing the outcome of the action.
The sentence flows logically, with the pampered servant leading to the eventual grief, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship inherent in the proverb.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מְפַנֵּק as παιδός (paidos), meaning 'child' or 'boy'. This choice broadens the scope from a servant to a more general understanding of a young person who is indulged.
This shift in translation may imply a warning not just for servants but for all youth who are excessively pampered, highlighting the universal principle of the proverb.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 29:21 teaches that a servant who is pampered from a young age will eventually cause trouble. This highlights the importance of proper upbringing and the potential negative consequences of indulgence.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To pamper a servant means to treat them with excessive care and indulgence, which can lead to negative behaviors later in life.
The upbringing of a servant is crucial because it shapes their character and behavior, influencing their future actions and relationships.
The grief referred to in the verse suggests sorrow or trouble that arises from the servant's behavior as a result of being pampered.
This proverb can apply to parenting by emphasizing the importance of discipline and balanced upbringing to avoid raising children who may become problematic as adults.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I ensure I am not overly indulgent in my relationships with others?
- How does my upbringing influence my behavior and character today?
- What are some examples of healthy boundaries in nurturing others?
- How can I learn from this proverb to improve my interactions with those I mentor or guide?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like Ephrem the Syrian and Bede reflect on this verse, discussing the implications of indulgence in nurturing and its consequences.
Formed, surrounded and coddled by delicacies and pleasures since its infancy, Israel, in spite of the [prefigured] images of the cross, “grew fat, became gross and recalcitrant,” so that, finally,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 29 →
He who delicately nurtures his servant from youth, etc. He who delicately nurtures his body from youth, which he ought to have subjugated to the soul,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 29 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 29:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child,.... In a very tender and affluent way uses him with great familiarity; makes him sit at table, with him, feeds him with dainties, and clothes
Read John Gill on Proverbs 29 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length. He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become (his) son at the length.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 29 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe that delicately bringeth up his servant, allowing him too much freedom, and familiarity, and delicious fare, shall have him become his son; will find him at last grow insolent and presumptuous, and forgetful of his servile condition.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 29 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 29:21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become [his] son at the length.Ver. 21. He that delicately bringeth up his servant.] A master that would be, as he ought, both loved and feared by his servants, must see to two things: - (1.) The well-choosing; and (2.) The well using of them. This Solomon himself, that thus adviseth here, was not so well advised of; for he saw that Jeroboam, who gave occasion, as it is conceived, of uttering this proverb, was meet for the work, and therefore, not examining his religion, entertained him into his service, yea, placed him over the family of Joseph, admitted him into so much familiarity, and so let loose the…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 29 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) Shall have him become his son at the last.—Confidential slaves sometimes rose to be the heirs of their master’s property. (See above on Proverbs 17:2.) But here the warning seems to be rather against spoiling a slave by over-indulgence, lest he at the last forget his position, just as old and petted servants are apt to become somewhat dictatorial.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 29 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. He that delicately bringeth up his servant] Such persons are generally forgetful of their obligations, assume the rights and privileges of children, and are seldom good for any thing.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 29 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21. his son] The meaning of the word which occurs only here is doubtful (see R.V. marg.), but this is the most probable rendering of it. The Vulg., as referred to in R.V. marg., has sentiet eum contumacem, shall have him become refractory. The LXX. give the proverb differently: “He that lives delicately from his youth shall be a servant, and shall be grieved with himself (ὀδυνηθήσεταιἐφʼ ? ἑαυτῷ) at the last.”
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 29 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSon - The Hebrew word occurs here only and is therefore of doubtful meaning. The favored slave, petted and pampered from boyhood, will claim at last the privilege, perhaps the inheritance, of sonship.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 29 →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
A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.
He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end.
A servant pampered from his youth will bring grief in the end.
If someone pampers his servant from youth, he will be a weakling in the end.
Tyndale line
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become a son at the last.
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him at length become his son.
He that delicately bringeth vp his seruant from youth, at length he will be euen as his sone.
Strictly literal
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall in the end have him as a son.
Whoso is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, [At] his latter end also he is continuator.
Whoever is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, || [At] his latter end he is also continuator.
If one rear his servant delicately from his youth, then will he at length become as [his] son.
One who pampers his slave from youth, at the end of it there will be trouble.
From the Latin
He that nourisheth his servant delicately from his childhood, afterwards shall find him stubborn.
Simplified
A servant indulged from childhood will in the end become unmanageable.
If a servant is gently cared for from his early years, he will become a cause of sorrow in the end.
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 מְפַנֵּק מִנֹּעַר עַבְדּוֹ וְאַחֲרִיתוֹ יִהְיֶה מָנֽוֹן, while the Septuagint matches only three of the six words, indicating some divergence in translation but agreement on the core message of the verse.
מְפַנֵּ֣ק מִנֹּ֣עַר עַבְדּ֑וֹ וְ֝אַחֲרִית֗וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה מָנֽוֹן׃
3 of the 6 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 29:21
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.
פָּנַק (panaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to indulge or pamper. It is a primitive root that conveys the idea of treating someone delicately or bringing them up with care. The entries indicate its use in the context of indulgence, particularly noted in Proverbs 29:21.
[פָּנַק] vb. Pi. indulge, pamper;—Pr 29:21
ref
H6445 פָּנַק
6445 panaq paw-nak'
a primitive root; to enervate:--bring up.
פָּנַק (pa.naq) — to pamper.
(Piel) to indulge, pamper, bring up, treat delicately
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singularHVprmsa
נֹ֫עַר (no`ar) refers to youth or boyhood, indicating a period of early life. It is derived from the root word for 'to be young' and is noted as a rare poetic term in some contexts. The entries consistently emphasize its association with childhood and youth.
נֹ֫עַר n.m. youth, early life (rare poet.)
base
H5290 נֹ֫עַר
5290 no`ar no'-ar
from 5287; (abstractly) boyhood (compare 5288):--child,
youth.
see HEBREW for 05287
see HEBREW for 05288
נֹ֫עַר (no.ar) — youth.
youth, boyhood, early life
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
אַחֲרִית (achariyth) means 'end' or 'after-part' and encompasses concepts like the future, posterity, and remnants. It can refer to the last time or the latter part of events, often with prophetic implications. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be behind' and is noted in various contexts, including discussions of time and lineage.
אַחֲרִית 61 n.f. after-part, end
base
H319 אַחֲרִית after-part, end
319 'achariyth akh-ar-eeth'
from 310; the last or end, hence, the future; also
posterity:--(last, latter) end (time), hinder (utter) -most,
length, posterity, remnant, residue, reward.
see HEBREW for 0310
אַחֲרִית (a.cha.rit) — end.
1) after part, end
1a) end, issue, event
1b) latter time (prophetic for future time)
1c) posterity
1d) last, hindermost
Aramaic equivalent: a.cha.rit (אַחֲרִית "latter" H0320)
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
מָנוֹן (manown) appears to refer to a concept of progeny or heir, though its exact meaning is uncertain. It is noted in Proverbs 29:21, where it is translated as 'thankless one' by some sources. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to continue' or 'to inherit,' but the lexicons do not provide a consensus on its full implications.
מָנוֹן n.m. dub.; only in Pr 29:21 Ew Now thankless one
ref
H4497 מָנוֹן
4497 manown maw-nohn'
from 5125; a continuator, i.e. heir:--son.
see HEBREW for 05125
מָנוֹן (ma.non) — progeny.
1) grief, progeny, thankless one
1a) meaning uncertain
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
→ BORROWING Mt 6:25-34; Mr 5:35,36; Joh 14:1; 16:6,7; Php 4:6; 1Pe 5:7
See AFFLICTION
See SUFFERING
→ INSTANCES OF
Israelites at the Red Sea Ex 14:10-12
About water Ex 15:23-25; 17:2,3; Nu 20:1-13
Food Ex 16:2,3; Nu 11:4-33
When Moses waited upon the mountain Ex 32:1