The big picture
Proverbs 29 opens in verse 1 with “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.”, and closes in verse 27 with “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is…” Repeated or prominent terms include wicked, righteous, bringeth, keepeth, LORD. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 27Proverbs 29:1-7
1–7: He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be…
Proverbs 29:1–7 opens with “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without…” and reaches “The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 29 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, bringeth, keepeth, LORD, with particular weight carried by righteous, people, rejoice.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 29:1-7
King James Version1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
4The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
5A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
6In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
Proverbs 29:8-14
8–14: Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
Proverbs 29:8–14 opens with “Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.” and reaches “The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 29 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, bringeth, keepeth, LORD, with particular weight carried by wise, poor, bloodthirsty.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.” Naming Scornful keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 29:8-14
King James Version8Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
9If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
10The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
11A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
12If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
13The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
14The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
Proverbs 29:15-21
15–21: The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth…
Proverbs 29:15–21 opens with “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” and reaches “He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 29 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, bringeth, keepeth, LORD, with particular weight carried by bringeth, child, servant.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bringeth, child, left. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 29:15-21
King James Version15The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
16When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
19A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
21He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
Proverbs 29:22-27
22–27: An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in…
Proverbs 29:22–27 opens with “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” and reaches “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 29 develops its own movement around wicked, righteous, bringeth, keepeth, LORD, with particular weight carried by abomination, LORD, man’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
“An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” The line’s distinctive content terms include aboundeth, angry, furious. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 29:22-27
King James Version22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD .
27An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 29:1 begins with “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 29:20 forms a natural hinge: “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
The final note
Proverbs 29:27 leaves the reader with “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wicked, righteous, bringeth, keepeth, LORD, people help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Laban's deception echo Jacob's earlier conduct?
An older and younger sibling are exchanged through a disguised identity, with family custom used to justify the outcome.
What changes when the narrator follows Leah?
Readers hear the pain of the less-loved woman and God's attention to her.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.