Proverbs 17:23
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Proverbs 17:23
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The phrase "out of the bosom" isn't just about where money was carried; it highlights the deep secrecy and hidden nature of the bribe. It paints a picture of justice being corrupted not in the open, but through sly, concealed exchanges, showing how readily people will twist what's right when they think no one is watching.
This verse sits within a collection of wisdom sayings contrasting the righteous and the wicked. It immediately follows verses that highlight the importance of discretion in speech and the consequences of a fool's anger, setting up a picture of deliberate corruption. By taking a bribe "out of the bosom," the verse emphasizes the stealth and secrecy involved in perverting justice, often involving judges or witnesses who are meant to uphold fairness.
Understand the original words
rasha · Hebrew Noun
A person characterized by rebellion against God’s law, habitually engaging in actions that are morally corrupt and opposed to divine righteousness.
shochad · Hebrew Noun
A corrupt payment offered to influence a person in authority to bypass ethical standards or fairness, strictly forbidden in biblical law as it blinds the eyes of the wise.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The standard of fairness, righteousness, and equity that aligns with God’s character; "perverting" it is a direct violation of God’s command to judge impartially.
This passage directly warns against accepting bribes, highlighting that they blind even the wise and twist just words, mirroring the perversion of justice described in Proverbs.
Deuteronomy 16:19This verse explicitly states that a bribe corrupts judgment and perverts justice, reinforcing the severe consequences of such actions, especially for those in positions of authority.
Isaiah 1:23Isaiah condemns rulers who are lovers of bribes and pursue gifts, showing how this corrupt practice was a systemic issue that led to injustice, similar to the isolated wicked person in Proverbs.
Matthew 23:23Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for tithing mint, dill, and cumin but neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness – the weightier matters of the law, underscoring that even religious observance can't hide injustice born from a corrupt heart, often fueled by greed.
Amos 5:12Amos denounces those who trample the poor and take bribes, painting a vivid picture of how systemic corruption, including secret bribes, crushes the vulnerable and leads to injustice.
barnesProverbs 17:23: "A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment."
The words "out of the bosom," from the fold of the garment, rather than from the bag or girdle in which money was usually carried, possibly point to the stealthiness with which the "gift" (or, bribe) is offered to the judge.
bensonProverbs 17:23: "A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment."
Proverbs 17:23 . A wicked man — Whether judge or witness; taketh a gift out of the bosom — In secret, as this phrase is expounded Proverbs 21:14 , being privily conveyed from the bosom of the giver into his own bosom; to pervert the ways of judgment — To give or procure an unjust sentence. Bishop Patrick’s paraphrase of the verse is, “No man would willingly be known to be so wicked as to be bribed to…
The phrase "out of the bosom" isn't just about where money was carried; it highlights the deep secrecy and hidden nature of the bribe. It paints a picture of justice being corrupted not in the open, but through sly, concealed exchanges, showing how readily people will twist what's right when they think no one is watching.
This verse sits within a collection of wisdom sayings contrasting the righteous and the wicked. It immediately follows verses that highlight the importance of discretion in speech and the consequences of a fool's anger, setting up a picture of deliberate corruption. By taking a bribe "out of the bosom," the verse emphasizes the stealth and secrecy involved in perverting justice, often involving judges or witnesses who are meant to uphold fairness.
This verse sits within a collection of wisdom sayings contrasting the righteous and the wicked. It immediately follows verses that highlight the importance of discretion in speech and the consequences of a fool's anger, setting up a picture of deliberate corruption. By taking a bribe "out of the bosom," the verse emphasizes the stealth and secrecy involved in perverting justice, often involving judges or witnesses who are meant to uphold fairness.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Proverbs 17:23 is available in the Sola app.
"The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice." — The phrase "out of the bosom" isn't just about where money was carried; it highlights the deep secrecy and hidden nature of the bribe. It paints a picture of justice being corrupted not in the open,…