Proverbs 5:9 — Word Study
WLCפֶּן־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים הוֹדֶ֑ךָ וּ֝שְׁנֹתֶ֗יךָ לְאַכְזָרִֽי׃
BSAlestpên [beware that, be cautious] you concedenâthan▸ [give, surrender] your vigorhôwd [strength, vitality] to othersʼachêr [strangers, different ones] and your yearsshâneh [period of life, time on earth] to one who is cruelʼakzârîy [describing someone as, harsh, unkind, fierce]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פֶּן־ | lest | Particle |
| תִּתֵּ֣ן | you should give | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים | to others | Preposition |
| הוֹדֶ֑ךָ | vigor your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּ֝שְׁנֹתֶ֗יךָ | and years your | Conjunction, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| לְאַכְזָרִֽי׃ | to a cruel [person] | Preposition |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel; |
| KJV | Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: |
| ASV | Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel; |
| YLT | Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce, |
| WEB | lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; |
| BBE | For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men: |
The translations agree on the core message of the verse, emphasizing caution in giving away one's strength and years.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a conjunction and a subordinate clause detailing the consequences.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַן
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 5:9
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 — Warnings Against Adulterygenerated
Proverbs 5:9 is a part of a series of admonitions that advise against the temptations of adultery and the consequences that follow. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of staying away from immoral relationships and the potential loss of one's vitality and resources. This wisdom literature reflects the values of fidelity and self-control.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 6:29–35 | So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. |
| 2 | Genesis 38:23–26 | “Let her keep the items,” Judah replied. “Otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you could not find her.” |
| 3 | Judges 16:19–21 | And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him. |
| 4 | Nehemiah 13:26 | Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin. |
| 5 | Hosea 4:13–14 | They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תִּתֵּ֣ן, ti.Tengenerated
The verb תִּתֵּן (ti.Ten) is the second person masculine singular form of the verb נָתַן (natan), meaning 'to give.' It conveys a sense of offering or surrendering something valuable, in this case, one's vigor.
The imperfect aspect indicates an ongoing action or a potential future event, suggesting a warning against the act of giving away one's strength to others.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions conveying the idea of giving away one's strength and years to others, particularly to those who are cruel.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תִּתֵּן governs the entire verse, indicating the action of giving. The structure includes a prepositional phrase specifying to whom the vigor is given, and a noun phrase detailing what is being given.
The verse is structured as a warning, with the imperative nature of the verb emphasizing the caution being advised.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תִּתֵּן as πρόῃ, which carries a similar meaning of giving or offering. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the Hebrew term while adapting it to the Greek context.
The use of ἀνελεήμοσιν for 'cruel' in the Septuagint emphasizes the harshness of the person being warned against, aligning with the original Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 5:9 warns against giving your strength and years to others, especially to those who are cruel. It advises caution in relationships, emphasizing the importance of guarding one's vitality.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To concede your vigor means to give away your strength and energy to others, which can lead to negative consequences.
It is important to be cautious because giving your time and life to someone who is cruel can lead to harm and regret.
The consequences can include loss of vitality, regret, and potentially being exploited by those who do not have your best interests at heart.
This verse applies to modern relationships by reminding us to be careful about who we invest our time and energy in, ensuring they are worthy of our trust.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I guard my strength and time in relationships?
- What are some signs that someone may be cruel or unkind?
- How can I better discern who is worthy of my trust and energy?
- What practical steps can I take to avoid giving my vigor to the wrong people?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers provide commentary on this verse, warning against giving one's honor and time to those who are unkind, emphasizing the importance of fidelity to God.
Give not thine honour unto aliens and thy years unto the cruel, lest haply strangers be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours be in the house of a stranger, and thou moan at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
Do not give your honor to others, etc. Do not subject the honor by which you were created in the image of God to the wills of unclean spirits, nor waste the granted time of living according to the will of the cruel adversary.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 5:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLest thou give thine honour unto others,.... To strumpets, their children, attendants, servants, and friends; that is, either wealth or riches, which make men honourable; or their three, credit, and
Read John Gill on Proverbs 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: Lest thou give thine honour unto others. "Thine honour" - i:e., thy chastity and purity.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThine honour; thy dignity and reputation, the strength and rigour of thy body and mind, which is an honour to a man, and which are commonly wasted by adulterous practices. Unto others; unto whores, and their husbands, and children, and friends. Thy years; the flower of thine age, thy youthful years. Unto the cruel; to the harlot, who though she pretends ardent love and kindness to thee, yet in truth is one of the most cruel creatures in the world, wasting thy estate and, body without the least pity, and then casting thee off with scorn. and contempt; and when her interest requires it, taking away thy very life, of which there are innumerable examples, and damning thy soul for ever.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 5:9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:Ver. 9. Lest thou give thine honour,] i.e., Whatsoever within thee, or without thee, may make thee honourable or esteemed, as the flower of thine age, the comeliness of thy body, the excellency of thy wit, thy possibility of preferment, that good opinion that the better sort had of thee, &c. How was David slighted by his own children and servants after he had thus sinned! Compare 1 Samuel 2:30 with 2 Samuel 12:10. Chastity is a man’ s honour. And their years,] i.e., According to some, Thy wealth that thou hast been many years in gathering; πλουτος quasi πολυετος. To the cruel.] That is, To the harlot and her…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) Thine honour.—Rather, freshness, vigour. Thy years.—The best years of thy life. Unto the cruel.—That is the temptress herself, or her hangers-on and associates, whose sole idea is plunder.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. Lest thou give thine honour] The character of a debauchee is universally detested: by this, even those of noble blood lose their honour and respect. Thy years unto the cruel] Though all the blandishments of love dwell on the tongue, and the excess of fondness appear in the whole demeanour of the harlot and the prostitute; yet cruelty has its throne in their hearts; and they will rob and murder (when it appears to answer their ends) those who give their strength, their wealth, and their years to them. The unfaithful wife has often murdered her own husband for the sake of her paramour, and has given him over to justice in order to save herself. Murders have often taken place in…
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. others] instead of to thine own, Proverbs 5:15; Proverbs 5:17. Comp. Proverbs 5:10.the cruel] The Heb. noun is masc. sing. and is intended perhaps vividly to describe the sin with its cruel consequences (Proverbs 6:26; Proverbs 6:31-35; Proverbs 7:22-23; Proverbs 7:26) as a merciless personal Avenger. LXX. ἀνελεήμοσιν, taking the Heb. word apparently as a collective noun.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThine honor - i. e., “The grace and freshness of thy youth” (compare Hosea 14:6; Daniel 10:8). The thought of this is to guard the young man against the sins that stain and mar it.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 5 →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
lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;
lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
lest you give your vigor to others and your years to a cruel person,
Tyndale line
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Lest thou give thy honor to others, and thy years to the cruel:
Least thou giue thine honor vnto others, and thy yeeres to the cruell:
Strictly literal
lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,
Lest you give your splendor to others, || And your years to the fierce,
That thou mayest not give up unto others thy vigor, and thy years unto the cruel;
In that way you will not give away your honor to others or years of your life to a cruel person;
From the Latin
Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.
Simplified
Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.
For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men:
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
פֶּן־ תִּתֵּן לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים הוֹדֶ֑ךָ וּ֝שְׁנֹתֶ֗יךָ לְאַכְזָרִֽי׃ from the Masoretic Text matches the Septuagint closely, with all words corresponding directly. This agreement highlights the consistency of the text across these traditions.
פֶּן־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים הוֹדֶ֑ךָ וּ֝שְׁנֹתֶ֗יךָ לְאַכְזָרִֽי׃
6 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 5:9
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.
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
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…
אַחֵר (acher) means 'another' or 'other' and can imply something that follows or is different. It is derived from a root that suggests hindrance or being next to something else. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, often referring to another person or thing.
אַחֵר adj. another
base
H312 אַחֵר another
312 'acher akh-air'
from 309; properly, hinder; generally, next, other,
etc.:--(an-)other man, following, next, strange.
see HEBREW for 0309
אַחֵר (a.cher) — another.
1) another, other, following
1a) following, further
1b) other, different
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aampa
The Hebrew word הוֹד (*hod*) encompasses meanings related to splendour, majesty, and vigour, primarily in a poetic context. It is derived from an unused root and conveys concepts of grandeur and beauty, as noted in various lexicons.
הוֹד n.m. splendour, majesty, vigour (chiefly poet.)
base
H1935 הוֹד splendour, majesty, vigour (chiefly poet.)
1935 howd hode
from an unused root; grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and
appearance):--beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory,
goodly, honour, majesty.
הוֹד (hod) — splendor.
splendour, majesty, vigour
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.
שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])
base
H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])
8141 shaneh shaw-neh'
(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year
(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,
year(X -ly).
see HEBREW for 08138
שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.
1) year
1a) as division of time
1b) as measure of time
1c) as indication of age
1d) a lifetime (of years of life)
Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Conj | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word אַכְזָרִי (*akzariy*) means 'cruel' and appears only in this form. It is derived from another root word, אכזר (*akzar*), which also conveys a sense of cruelty. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning without significant variation.
אַכְזָרִי adj. cruel, always in this form
base
H394 אַכְזָרִי cruel, always in this form
394 'akzariy ak-zawr-ree'
from 393; terrible:--cruel (one).
see HEBREW for 0393
אַכְזָרִי (akh.za.ri) — cruel.
cruel
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aamsa