Proverbs 20:14
Proverbs 20:14 in Multiple Translations
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone, then he boasteth.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
People look at things that they are about to buy, and in order to get it for a lower price sometimes they say, “◄It is no good/It is poor quality►,” but after they buy it, they go and boast about having bought it for a cheap price.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 20:14
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 20:14 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
רַ֣ע
רַ֭ע
יֹאמַ֣ר
הַ/קּוֹנֶ֑ה
וְ/אֹזֵ֥ל
ל֝֗/וֹ
אָ֣ז
יִתְהַלָּֽל
רַ֣ע
raʻ
H7451
bad
Adj
רַ֭ע
raʻ
H7451
bad
Adj
יֹאמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
הַ/קּוֹנֶ֑ה
qânâh
H7069
to buy
Art | V-Qal
וְ/אֹזֵ֥ל
ʼâzal
H235
be gone
Conj | V-Qal
ל֝֗/וֹ
Prep | Suff
אָ֣ז
ʼâz
H227
then
Adv
יִתְהַלָּֽל
hâlal
H1984
to shine
V-Hithpael-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 20:14
רַ֣ע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
Adj
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
רַ֭ע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
Adj
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
יֹאמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
הַ/קּוֹנֶ֑ה
qânâh
H7069
"to buy"
Art | V-Qal
This verb means to buy or acquire something, and is used to describe God's redemption of His people. It emphasizes ownership and possession, as seen in the stories of God's creation and redemption.
Definition: 1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to get, acquire, obtain 1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people 1a1a1) possessor 1a1b) of Eve acquiring 1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom 1a2) to buy 1b) (Niphal) to be bought 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess Aramaic equivalent: qe.na (קְנָא "to buy" H7066)
Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover, redeem, [idiom] surely, [idiom] verily. See also: Genesis 4:1; 2 Chronicles 34:11; Psalms 74:2.
וְ/אֹזֵ֥ל
ʼâzal
H235
"be gone"
Conj | V-Qal
To be gone means to go away or disappear, like something that is used up or exhausted. It can also mean to go to and fro, or to gad about, as in Ezekiel 27:19 where it describes trade and commerce.
Definition: 1) to go, to go away, to go about 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go away 1a2) to go about 1a3) to be used up, be exhausted, be gone, evaporated 1b) (Pual) to go to and fro
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: fail, gad about, go to and fro (but in Ezekiel 27:19 the word is rendered by many 'from Uzal,' by others 'yarn'), be gone (spent). See also: Deuteronomy 32:36; Job 14:11; Proverbs 20:14.
ל֝֗/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
אָ֣ז
ʼâz
H227
"then"
Adv
This Hebrew word refers to a past time or place, often used to describe something that happened earlier. It can also be used as a conjunction to show a cause-and-effect relationship. In the Bible, it appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) then, at that time 1a) temporal expressions 1a1) then (past) 1a2) then, if...then (future) 1a3) earlier 1b) logical expressions 1b1) in that case 1b2) that (being so)
Usage: Occurs in 133 OT verses. KJV: beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet. See also: Genesis 4:26; 1 Chronicles 22:13; Psalms 2:5.
יִתְהַלָּֽל
hâlal
H1984
"to shine"
V-Hithpael-Imperf-3ms
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
Study Notes — Proverbs 20:14
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 20:14 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 20:14
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 20:14
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 20:14
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 20:14
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
- Sermons on Proverbs 20:14
Context — Wine Is a Mocker
12Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure. 16Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Thessalonians 4:6 | and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you. |
| 2 | Hosea 12:7–8 | A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands. And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.” |
| 3 | Ecclesiastes 1:10 | Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us. |
Proverbs 20:14 Summary
[This verse is talking about a buyer who is trying to get a good deal on something, but is being dishonest about its value. He says it's worthless, but then he gloats about getting a good deal when he leaves. This is not how God wants us to behave, as seen in Proverbs 10:9 and Leviticus 19:11. Instead, we should always try to be honest and fair in our dealings with others, even if it's hard or doesn't seem to benefit us, because God delights in honesty and integrity, as taught in Proverbs 11:1.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when the buyer says 'Worthless, worthless' in Proverbs 20:14?
The buyer is likely negotiating the price of an item and trying to get the best deal, similar to how Jacob negotiated with Laban in Genesis 29:15-20. This is a common practice in many cultures, but it can also be a form of deception.
Is the buyer in Proverbs 20:14 being dishonest?
Yes, the buyer is being dishonest by saying the item is worthless when he actually thinks it has value, as seen in his gloating on the way out. This behavior is condemned in Proverbs 10:9, which says that the man of integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
What is the main lesson of Proverbs 20:14?
The main lesson is that honesty and integrity are important in all our interactions, including business dealings, as taught in Proverbs 11:1, which says that the LORD abhors dishonest scales, but delights in accurate weights.
How can we apply Proverbs 20:14 to our everyday lives?
We can apply this verse by being truthful and transparent in all our interactions, whether personal or professional, and by treating others with fairness and respect, as commanded in Leviticus 19:11 and repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 4:25.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I have been like the buyer in Proverbs 20:14, trying to get the best deal at the expense of honesty?
- How can I cultivate a spirit of honesty and integrity in my daily life, even when it's difficult or unpopular?
- What are some areas of my life where I need to be more transparent and truthful, and how can I take steps to improve in those areas?
- How can I balance being wise and shrewd in my dealings with others, while still being honest and fair, as taught in Proverbs 22:1?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 20:14
[It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer,.... When he comes to the shop of the seller, or to market to buy goods, he undervalues them, says they are not so good as they should be, nor so cheap
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 20:14
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. It is naught, it is naught (the ware on sale is bad in quality and quantity), saith the buyer.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
It is naught; the commodity is but of little worth. Saith the buyer, to wit, to the seller; he discommends it, that he may bring down the price of it. Gone his way, with the commodity purchased. He boasteth that by his wit he hath overreached the seller, and got a great advantage to himself. This he notes as a common but reprovable practice.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
Proverbs 20:14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.Ver. 14. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer.] Or, Saith the possessor, and so Melanchthon reads it: as taxing that common fault and folly of slighting present mercies, but desiring and commending them when they are lost. Virtutem incolumen odimus, sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. Israel "despised the pleasant land," and the precious manna, and Solomen’ s gentle government, Our corrupt nature weighs not good things till we want them, as the eye sees nothing that lies upon it.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
(14) It is naught, saith the buyer.—He cries down the goods he wants to purchase. Then he boasteth.—How he has outdone the seller, and got the goods below their value. For other notices of cheating in trade see above on Proverbs 11:1.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
Verse 14. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer] How apt are men to decry the goods they wish to purchase, in order that they may get them at a cheaper rate; and, when they have made their bargain and carried it off, boast to others at how much less than its value they have obtained it! Are such honest men? Is such knavery actionable? Can such be punished only in another world? St. Augustine tells us a pleasant story on this subject: A certain mountebank published, in the full theatre, that at the next entertainment he would show to every man present what was in his heart. The time came, and the concourse was immense; all waited, with deathlike silence, to hear what he would say to each. He stood up, and in a single sentence redeemed his pledge: - VILI vultis EMERE, et CARO VENDERE. You all wish to BUY CHEAP, and SELL DEAR." He was applauded; for every one felt it to be a description of his own heart, and was satisfied that all others were similar.
"In quo dicto levissimi scenici omnes tamen conscientias invenerunt suas.'-DE TRINITATE, lib. xiii., c. 3; OPER. vol. vii., col. 930.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 20:14
14. naught] i.e. an inferior article. Comp. 2 Kings 2:19. By decrying it he gets it cheap, and then goes his way and boasts of his cleverness. Mr Bridges, in his Commentary on Proverbs, quotes here from Augustine the well-known story of him who having given out that he would disclose to every man the secret desire of his heart, exclaimed to the crowd who came together to hear it, Vili vultis emere, et caro vendere, “You all wish to buy cheap, and sell dear” (Aug. de Trin. lib. 13. c. 3).
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 20:14
Naught - Bad, worthless 2 Kings 2:19.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
14. It is naught — “Bad, bad!” says the buyer; but he trips off and then praises himself — boasts of his good bargain. A common occurrence.
Sermons on Proverbs 20:14
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Fraud Exposed and Condemned by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the importance of conducting fair and upright business transactions as a reflection of true religion. He emphasizes the need for individuals to be gove |
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Destination Purity by Jim Van Gelderen | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the challenges of living in a world filled with temptation and inappropriate content. He emphasizes the importance of guiding young people in |
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Importance of Purity in Our Life by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen delivers a powerful message on the importance of purity in the sexual area as outlined in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. He emphasizes the need to possess our bodies in sanctifi |
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Day 61, 1 Thessalonians 4 by David Servant | David Servant preaches on Paul's teachings to the Thessalonians, emphasizing the importance of obeying all of Jesus' commandments and living a life of holiness and sanctification. |
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Of Heaven and Hell by Jacob Boehme | Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'defraud' (pleonekteo), emphasizing the act of selfishly taking advantage of others for personal gain, especially in the context of se |
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Hosea #3 Ch. 4-5 Israel's Willful Ignorance by Chuck Missler | In this sermon on the book of Hosea, the speaker begins by highlighting the broken home of Israel as a result of their adulterous relationship with God. The focus then shifts to ch |
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Breaking Free From a Controlling Spirit by Don Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of God to break free from controlling spirits. He refers to the story of Elijah in the Bible, where an angel of the Lord came to h |