Proverbs 12:9
Strong's Lexicon
Better
ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2896: adj 1) good, pleasant, agreeable 1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses) 1b) pleasant (to the higher nature) 1c) good, excellent (of its kind) 1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation 1e) good, appropriate, becoming 1f) better (comparative) 1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature) 1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature) 1i) good, kind, benign 1j) good, right (ethical) n m 2) a good thing, benefit, welfare 2a) welfare, prosperity, happiness 2b) good things (collective) 2c) good, benefit 2d) moral good n f 3) welfare, benefit, good things 3a) welfare, prosperity, happiness 3b) good things (collective) 3c) bounty

to be lightly esteemed,
נִ֭קְלֶה (niq·leh)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 7034: 1) to disgrace, dishonour, be lightly esteemed, be dishonoured, be despised 1a) (Niphal) to be dishonoured, be despised, be lightly esteemed 1b) (Hiphil) to treat with contempt, dishonour, treat shamefully

yet have a servant,
וְעֶ֣בֶד (wə·‘e·ḇeḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5650: 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)

than to be self-important
מִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗ד (mim·mə·ṯak·kab·bêḏ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3513: 1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be heavy 1a2) to be heavy, be insensible, be dull 1a3) to be honoured 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made heavy, be honoured, enjoy honour, be made abundant 1b2) to get oneself glory or honour, gain glory 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to make heavy, make dull, make insensible 1c2) to make honourable, honour, glorify 1d) (Pual) to be made honourable, be honoured 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to make heavy 1e2) to make heavy, make dull, make unresponsive 1e3) to cause to be honoured 1f) (Hithpael) 1f1) to make oneself heavy, make oneself dense, make oneself numerous 1f2) to honour oneself

but lack
וַחֲסַר־ (wa·ḥă·sar-)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 2638: 1) in need of, lacking, needy, in want of

food.
לָֽחֶם׃ (lā·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3899: 1) bread, food, grain 1a) bread 1a1) bread 1a2) bread-corn 1b) food (in general)

Parallel Strong's
Berean Study Bible
Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food.

Young's Literal Translation
Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better to be dishonored, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

New American Standard Bible
Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

King James Bible
[He that is] despised, and hath a servant, [is] better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
Parallel Verses
New International Version
Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

New Living Translation
Better to be an ordinary person with a servant than to be self-important but have no food.

English Standard Version
Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

New American Standard Bible
Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.

King James Bible
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better to be dishonored, yet have a servant, than to act important but have no food.

International Standard Version
It's better to be unimportant, yet have a servant, than to pretend to be important, but lack food.

NET Bible
Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.

American Standard Version
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

English Revised Version
Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

Young's Literal Translation
Better is the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.
















Cross References
Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Proverbs 12:8
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Proverbs 1:1
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

Proverbs 12:7
The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Proverbs 12:11
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

Proverbs 12:12
The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
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Better Bread Despised Destitute Esteemed Food Great High Honoreth Honors Honoureth Humble Lightly Low Need Nobody Opinion Playeth Plays Position Pretend Rank Servant Somebody Standing Works
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