Proverbs 14:28 kjv
In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
Proverbs 14:28 nkjv
In a multitude of people is a king's honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
Proverbs 14:28 niv
A large population is a king's glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
Proverbs 14:28 esv
In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
Proverbs 14:28 nlt
A growing population is a king's glory;
a prince without subjects has nothing.
Proverbs 14 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:25-26 | You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless... none shall miscarry or be barren. | Obedience brings population growth. |
| Deut 7:13-14 | He will bless the fruit of your womb... you shall be blessed above all peoples... no barren male or female. | Blessings lead to numerous offspring. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | If you obey... all these blessings shall come upon you... The LORD will make you abound... | Obedience to God leads to national prosperity and increase. |
| Deut 28:15-68 | But if you will not obey... the LORD will scatter you among all peoples... you shall be left few in number... | Disobedience leads to depopulation and ruin. |
| Ps 23:1-2 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures... | God's good shepherding ensures well-being of His flock. |
| Ps 100:3 | Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. | God's glory is His people whom He tends. |
| Ps 144:12-15 | Our sons in their youth be like plants... our daughters... corner pillars... our granaries full... no outcry in our streets! Blessed are the people... whose God is the LORD! | A prosperous people are a king's glory. |
| Prov 11:10 | When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of gladness. | Righteousness brings civic joy and prosperity. |
| Prov 11:11 | By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. | Righteous citizens exalt the community. |
| Prov 16:12 | It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. | Righteousness stabilizes royal rule. |
| Prov 20:28 | Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by righteousness his throne is upheld. | Loyalty and righteousness preserve leadership. |
| Prov 25:5 | Take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | Good counsel establishes just rule. |
| Prov 28:15 | Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. | Oppressive rulers terrorize and scatter people. |
| Prov 29:2 | When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. | Righteous rule brings joy; wicked rule brings sorrow. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up the land, but a man who takes bribes tears it down. | Justice builds; corruption destroys land/people. |
| Isa 1:19-20 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword... | Obedience brings sustenance; rebellion brings ruin. |
| Jer 21:7 | I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah... into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword. | Wickedness leads to king's and people's destruction. |
| Jer 29:7 | But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. | Welfare of people directly linked to personal welfare. |
| Ezek 34:1-10 | The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel... they eat the fat, they clothe themselves with the wool, they slaughter the fat ones, but they do not feed the sheep." | Bad shepherds (leaders) scatter and destroy their flock. |
| Matt 25:34-40 | Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed... for I was hungry and you gave me food...' | The ultimate King values care for "the least of these." |
| John 10:11-14 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... I know my own and my own know me. | Jesus, the perfect Shepherd, gathers and sustains His people. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb... | God's ultimate glory is seen in His redeemed multitude. |
Proverbs 14 verses
Proverbs 14 28 Meaning
Proverbs 14:28 declares that a ruler's glory and strength are inherently linked to the size and prosperity of his or her populace. A flourishing, numerous people signify a successful reign and are the true adornment of a king. Conversely, a declining or absent populace indicates the downfall and ruin of a leader, revealing the devastation of an unsustainable or unjust rule. The verse highlights the fundamental truth that a ruler's worth and power are ultimately derived from the well-being and stability of the governed.
Proverbs 14 28 Context
Proverbs 14 falls within a larger section (chapters 10-29) of Solomonic proverbs, characterized by antithetical parallelism, contrasting wise and foolish paths. The surrounding verses touch on themes of wisdom, righteousness, folly, injustice, wealth, poverty, and their respective consequences for individuals and society. Proverbs 14:28 specifically addresses principles of governance and leadership, situating a ruler's legitimacy and success within the context of their relationship with the populace. In ancient Israel and the broader Ancient Near East, a king's perceived power and prosperity were intrinsically linked to the health, size, and loyalty of his subjects, indicating divine favor and effective rule. Depopulation due to war, famine, disease, or unjust oppression signaled weakness, curse, and imminent downfall, highlighting a fundamental dependence of a leader's survival on the thriving of their people. This proverb acts as both an observation of political reality and an implied instruction for wise leadership.
Proverbs 14 28 Word analysis
- In a multitude (בְּרָב bĕrōḇ): The preposition bĕ- signifies "in" or "by." Rōḇ (from the root rāḇāh meaning "to be great, multiply") refers to abundance, numerical greatness, or the majority. It emphasizes not just presence but thriving numbers. Its significance highlights that power is derived from numerous individuals.
- of people (עָם ʿam): This term universally denotes a people, nation, or body of subjects. It implies a living, unified collective rather than mere land. It’s the human element, the heart of the kingdom.
- is the king's glory (תִּפְאֶרֶת מֶלֶךְ tifʾeret melek): Tifʾeret (from pāʾar, "to be beautiful, glorify") means glory, splendor, beauty, honor, or majesty. It's not just a numerical advantage but a qualitative display of royal magnificence and perceived worth. Melek refers to the reigning sovereign. The phrase implies that the people themselves are the adornment, the display, and the measure of a king's majesty.
- but in the lack (וּבְאֶפֶס ūḇĕʾep̄es): The conjunction ū- means "and" or "but." Bĕ- is "in." ʾEp̄es denotes an end, cessation, nothingness, or complete absence, being stronger than a mere deficit. It paints a picture of extreme depopulation or utter void, indicating severe failure.
- of people (לְאֹם lĕʾōm): Another Hebrew word for people or nation, often used in poetic parallelism. Its use here reinforces the severity of the lack by emphasizing the collective humanity, mirroring the "ʿam" earlier.
- is the ruin (מְחִתַּת mekhittat): From the root ḥātat, meaning "to break, shatter, dismay, terrorize." Mekhittat means terror, dismay, ruin, or destruction. This is a severe consequence, not just a loss of glory but an active process of collapse and desolation.
- of the prince (רָזוֹן razôn): Refers to a prince or ruler. The word razôn can also relate to the root razah, meaning "to be thin" or "diminished." This subtle connotation can reinforce the idea of a dwindling kingdom and a weakened ruler. Its pairing with "ruin" underscores the ultimate fate of a leader without subjects. The switch from melek (king) to razôn (prince) in the negative outcome could imply that a ruler who loses their people effectively loses their true kingly status, reducing to a mere nominal "prince" awaiting ruin.
Proverbs 14 28 Bonus section
- The contrast between melek (king) in the positive statement and razôn (prince/ruler, possibly diminished) in the negative one subtly emphasizes the degradation of authority that comes with a shrinking population. A ruler losing his people is no longer truly a "king" but merely a "prince" awaiting ruin.
- This proverb has a timeless application, extending beyond ancient kingship to modern governance, business leadership, and even spiritual leadership. A healthy church, for example, is often considered a "glory" for its spiritual leaders, reflecting the Holy Spirit's work through faithful pastoring and discipleship. Conversely, a declining congregation may indicate underlying issues of neglect or departure from sound doctrine.
- The Proverb aligns with other biblical principles stressing the importance of a leader's character and righteous actions as directly impacting the nation's well-being. Divine blessing often manifests in population growth and prosperity (Deut 28), while curse can lead to depopulation (Lev 26:22, 26:38).
Proverbs 14 28 Commentary
Proverbs 14:28 provides a profound insight into the essence of legitimate and powerful rule. It posits that a king's true glory is not found in personal wealth, grandiose palaces, or military might alone, but preeminently in the vitality and multitude of his or her subjects. A dense, prosperous population is a tangible testament to the king's justice, foresight, and ability to foster an environment conducive to life and flourishing. It signals stability, peace, and good governance, demonstrating the king's success in ensuring the welfare of his people. This creates a reciprocal relationship: a wise and righteous king fosters a thriving people, and a thriving people reflects the king's honor and secures his throne.
Conversely, the absence or diminution of people leads to the ruler's utter ruin. This depopulation can arise from famine, disease, war, or most tellingly, from tyrannical rule, injustice, or oppressive taxation that drives people away, enslaves them, or causes their demise. Such a ruler is revealed as weak, ineffectual, and unjust, leading not merely to a lack of glory, but to terror and desolation within the land. The "ruin" is not just the prince's personal demise, but the collapse of his dominion. The proverb therefore serves as a moral and practical admonition for leaders to prioritize the welfare, justice, and prosperity of their people, understanding that their own destiny is inextricably intertwined with that of the populace. A focus on "servant leadership" finds an ancient echo here, where the measure of success is the flourishing of those served.