Proverbs 17:23 kjv

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Proverbs 17:23 nkjv

A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

Proverbs 17:23 niv

The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.

Proverbs 17:23 esv

The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

Proverbs 17:23 nlt

The wicked take secret bribes
to pervert the course of justice.

Proverbs 17 verses

Proverbs 17 23 Meaning

This proverb vividly describes the corrupt nature of a wicked person who accepts a bribe in secret to deliberately undermine and distort the rightful course of justice. It highlights the destructive power of dishonesty, revealing that a heart committed to evil will readily pervert truth and fairness for illicit gain, leading to a system where integrity is compromised.

Proverbs 17 23 Context

Proverbs chapter 17 is a collection of pithy wisdom sayings that contrast the righteous with the wicked, highlighting various aspects of character and their consequences. The verse immediately preceding it (Prov 17:22) speaks of the heart's joy and sadness, and the verses following (Prov 17:24-28) continue to discuss folly, wise counsel, and the nature of foolishness. This specific proverb on bribery is placed within a broader discourse on ethical conduct, social order, and the essential difference between a just and an unjust society. In the ancient Israelite context, justice was often administered by elders at the city gate, making judicial impartiality crucial for communal well-being. Bribery thus struck at the very heart of societal truth and stability, corrupting the pathway of the entire community's uprightness. The verse reflects a common problem in the ancient Near East where such abuses of power undermined the social fabric and divine covenant expectations.

Proverbs 17 23 Word analysis

• A wicked man (אִישׁ רָשָׁע - ish rasha):
  • אִישׁ (ish): Standard Hebrew word for "man," emphasizing the individual agent.
  • רָשָׁע (rasha): Means "wicked," "guilty," or "ungodly." This term points to an individual's intrinsic moral character and spiritual state—one who deviates from God's standards and actively pursues unrighteousness. The choice to receive a bribe reveals and reinforces his already corrupt nature.
• receives (לָקַח - lakach):
  • לָקַח (lakach): Means "to take," "to accept," "to receive." This verb implies a deliberate and active choice on the part of the wicked man, not merely a passive acquisition. He actively welcomes and profits from the corrupt payment.
• a bribe (שֹׁחַד - shochad):
  • שֹׁחַד (shochad): Specifically refers to a "bribe" or a "gift given to pervert justice." It carries a negative connotation in most biblical contexts, denoting an illicit payment meant to sway judgment or secure undue favor, explicitly violating divine law.
• from the bosom (מֵחֵיק - mekhek):
  • מֵ (me): The preposition "from."
  • חֵיק (khek): Refers to the "bosom," "lap," or the "fold of a garment." This indicates that the bribe is given and received secretly, often implying stealth, concealment, and an intention to avoid detection. It speaks to the clandestine nature of corruption, hidden away from public view and accountability, much like money hidden in a deep pocket.
• to pervert (לְהַטּוֹת - lehattot):
  • לְהַטּוֹת (lehattot): Means "to turn aside," "to deviate," "to bend," "to distort," or "to make crooked." It signifies an active, intentional action of diverting something from its rightful course. Here, it is specifically directed at justice, showing a deliberate corruption.
• the ways (אָרְחוֹת - orchot):
  • אָרְחוֹת (orchot): Means "paths," "ways," or "courses." In biblical wisdom literature, "ways" often denote a person's conduct, moral character, or the established order of life and society. In this context, it refers to the processes and principles by which justice is administered.
• of justice (מִשְׁפָּט - mishpat):
  • מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat): A fundamental concept meaning "judgment," "justice," "ordinance," or "right." It refers to fairness, equity, and conformity to a righteous standard, particularly God's standard. The act of receiving a bribe directly opposes God's righteous mishpat, aiming to twist and deform what is inherently straight and true.

Words-group analysis:

• "A wicked man receives a bribe": This phrase directly links the action of receiving a bribe to the character of wickedness. It implies that the willingness to accept such an illicit payment is not just a poor choice but springs from an already morally depraved heart. It identifies the agent of corruption as fundamentally antithetical to God's standard.
• "a bribe from the bosom": This highlights the covert and secretive nature of the transaction. Corruption thrives in hidden places, where it can evade scrutiny. The intimacy of "bosom" emphasizes the personal embrace of the illicit gain and the devious method of its transfer.
• "to pervert the ways of justice": This powerful clause details the explicit destructive purpose of the bribe. It's not a mere "gift"; its intent is to actively distort the established order and fairness inherent in justice, rendering it crooked. It exposes the devastating societal impact of such acts.

Proverbs 17 23 Bonus section

The brevity of the proverb allows for deep theological implications. It suggests that wickedness is not merely a passive state but an active force that seeks to corrupt the good. The perversion of justice is particularly heinous because mishpat (justice) is deeply connected to God's own nature and covenant expectations for His people. Thus, accepting a bribe is not just a societal ill but a profound offense against the divine order. The verse implies that the motive for the bribe giver is equally corrupt, but the focus here is on the wicked character of the one who receives and wields authority to inflict injustice. This points to the lasting damage that judicial corruption causes—it undermines trust in authority, breeds cynicism, and makes societal systems inherently unstable, as the foundations of fairness are compromised by hidden self-interest. It speaks to the integrity required in all human institutions that are meant to reflect God's justice.

Proverbs 17 23 Commentary

Proverbs 17:23 offers a sharp critique of judicial corruption, presenting a concise yet profound condemnation. At its core, the verse identifies the character of the one who accepts a bribe as "wicked," underscoring that such an action stems from a fundamentally ungodly nature, rather than being an isolated ethical lapse. The bribe, acquired "from the bosom," emphasizes the secrecy and stealth involved, revealing a deliberate concealment of illicit activity from the light of accountability. The ultimate objective of this dark transaction is "to pervert the ways of justice"—a direct assault on fairness, truth, and the divinely ordained order for human society. This isn't a mere bending of rules, but an active, willful distortion of the straight path of what is right. God, as the ultimate Judge and source of true justice, abhors such corruption, as it directly undermines the moral fabric of a community and stands in opposition to His own character of righteousness. This proverb serves as a timeless warning against any compromise with integrity, particularly in positions of influence where truth and equity are expected.

• Example: A judge secretly takes money from a powerful landowner to rule against a poor farmer in a land dispute, ignoring the farmer's legitimate claim. The hidden nature of the payment and the twisted judgment exemplify this proverb.