Proverbs 28:14
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Original Language Analysis
אַשְׁרֵ֣י
Happy
H835
אַשְׁרֵ֣י
Happy
Strong's:
H835
Word #:
1 of 8
happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
אָ֭דָם
is the man
H120
אָ֭דָם
is the man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 8
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
מְפַחֵ֣ד
that feareth
H6342
מְפַחֵ֣ד
that feareth
Strong's:
H6342
Word #:
3 of 8
to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general
תָּמִ֑יד
alway
H8548
תָּמִ֑יד
alway
Strong's:
H8548
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the re
וּמַקְשֶׁ֥ה
but he that hardeneth
H7185
וּמַקְשֶׁ֥ה
but he that hardeneth
Strong's:
H7185
Word #:
5 of 8
properly, to be dense, i.e., tough or severe (in various applications)
לִ֝בּ֗וֹ
his heart
H3820
לִ֝בּ֗וֹ
his heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
6 of 8
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
Cross References
Proverbs 23:17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.Psalms 2:11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.Isaiah 66:2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.Jeremiah 32:40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.1 Peter 1:17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.Psalms 95:8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:Psalms 112:1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.Proverbs 29:1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.Romans 11:20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Historical Context
The 'fear of the LORD' permeates Israel's wisdom tradition—not terror but awe-filled reverence before the Almighty. Conversely, hardened hearts marked Israel's rebellions (Psalm 95:8, Hebrews 3:7-8). This proverb, from Solomon's era, would echo through centuries of prophetic warnings against stubborn hearts (Jeremiah 7:24, Ezekiel 3:7).
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean for you to 'fear always'—to maintain continual awareness of God's presence?
- Where might your heart be hardening against God's correction or leading?
- How can you cultivate a tender, responsive heart that remains soft to the Holy Spirit's conviction?
Analysis & Commentary
Happy is the man that feareth alway (אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם מְפַחֵד תָּמִיד, ashrei adam mefached tamid)—אַשְׁרֵי (ashrei, 'blessed, happy') opens the Psalter (Psalm 1:1) and marks the truly flourishing life. מְפַחֵד (mefached, 'fearing, being in awe') modifies פַּחַד (pachad, 'fear, dread, reverence'); תָּמִיד (tamid, 'continually, always') makes this not occasional but habitual. This is not paranoia but perpetual God-consciousness—the fear of the LORD that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief (וּמַקְשֶׁה לִבּוֹ יִפּוֹל בְּרָעָה, umaqsheh libbo yippol bera'ah)—קָשָׁה (qashah, 'to be hard, stiff, stubborn') describes the calcified לֵב (lev, 'heart'). Pharaoh's hardened heart (Exodus 7-14) exemplifies this warning. The result: נָפַל (nafal, 'to fall, collapse') into רָעָה (ra'ah, 'evil, calamity, disaster'). Proverbs constantly contrasts the soft, teachable heart with the hard, rebellious one.