Proverbs 27:23

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

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Word by word — the Hebrew

Word	Hebrew	Strong’s	Meaning
diligent	יָדֹ֣עַ ya.Do.a'	H3045	to know (properly · verb, qal infinitive absolute
know	תֵּ֭דַע Te.da'	H3045	to know (properly · verb, qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular
state	פְּנֵ֣י pe.Nei	H6440	the face (as the part that turns) · noun, common masculine plural construct
flocks	צֹאנֶ֑ךָ tzo.Ne.kha	H6629	a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats) · noun, common both genders singular construct + pronominal suffix, 2nd person masculine singular
look	שִׁ֥ית shit	H7896	to place (in a very wide application) · verb, qal imperative, 2nd person masculine singular
well	לִ֝בְּךָ֗ li.be.kha	H3820	the heart · noun, common masculine singular construct + pronominal suffix, 2nd person masculine singular
herds	לַעֲדָרִֽים la.'a.da.Rim	H5739	an arrangement · preposition + noun, common masculine plural absolute

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a rea…
John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou…
Genesis 33:13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overd…
2 Chronicles 26:10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen al…
Proverbs 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Ezekiel 34:31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 34:22-24 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 27:23–end

Here is, I. A command given us to be diligent in our callings. It is directed to husbandmen and shepherds, and those that deal in cattle, but it is to be extended to all other lawful callings; whatever our business is, within doors or without, we must apply our minds to it. This command intimates, 1. That we ought to have some business to do in this world and not to live in idleness. 2. We ought rightly and fully to understand our business, and know what we have to do, and not meddle with that which we do not understand. 3. We ought to have an eye to it ourselves, and not turn over all the care of it to others. We should, with our own eyes, inspect the state of our flocks, it is the master's…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 27:23

flocks--constituted the staple of wealth. It is only by care and diligence that the most solid possessions can be perpetuated (Pro 23:5).

John Gill on Proverbs 27:23

Be thou diligent to know the state of flocks,.... In what condition they are; what health they enjoy; how fat and fruitful they be; what pasturage they have; and that they want nothing fitting for them that can be had and is necessary; and also the number of them. The calling of the shepherd is here particularly mentioned, because valiant, honourable, innocent, and useful; but the same diligence is to be used in all other callings and business men are employed in, that they may provide for themselves and their families. It is in the original text, "the face of thy flocks" (r); perhaps the allusion is to the exact and distinct knowledge some very diligent careful shepherds might have, so as t…

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Keil & Delitzsch on Proverbs 27:23–end

An exhortation to rural industry, and particularly to the careful tending of cattle for breeding, forms the conclusion of the foregoing series of proverbs, in which we cannot always discern an intentional grouping. It is one of the Mashal-odes spoken of vol. i. p. 12. It consists of 11 = 4 + 7 lines. 23 Give heed to the look of thy small cattle, Be considerate about the herds. 24 For prosperity continues not for ever; And does the diadem continue from generation to generation? 25 (But) the hay is gone, and the after-growth appears, And the grass of the mountains is gathered: 26 Lambs serve to clothe thee, And goats are the price of a field. 27 And there is plenty of goats' milk for thy nouri…

The Church Fathers

Diligently know the countenance of your flock, etc. It is said to the pastor of the Church: Diligently care for those who it happens to you to be in charge of. Know the minds and actions of each one, and if you find anything in them of defiling vice, remember to correct it swiftly. For you will not always have the power to feed the Lord's sheep, but the eternal crown is which you will receive, if you have served well the office entrusted to you in your time.
— Bede, Commentary on Proverbs

It is not fitting to address simply to all who have believed in Christ instruction upon all points, for it is written, "With knowledge learn the souls of your flock." For the way is very different by which we establish in the paths of truth one who has but just now become a disciple, from one more confirmed in mind and able to understand what is the height and depth, and what the length and breadth. In the former, use simple teaching, in which there is nothing profound or difficult to understand. Counsel him to escape from the error of polytheism and fittingly persuade him to discern by the beauty of things created, the universal creator and artificer, who is one by nature and truly God.
— Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 93

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Agriculture · Requires diligence — Requires diligence
Agriculture Or Husbandry · Requires: Diligence — Requires: Diligence
Diligence · Lawful business — Lawful business
Industry · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Milk · Flocks and herds fed for supply of — Flocks and herds fed for supply of
Ox, The · Required great care and attention — Required great care and attention
Riches · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Proverbs 27:23

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 27:23–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 27:23

John Gill on Proverbs 27:23

Keil & Delitzsch on Proverbs 27:23–end

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Proverbs 27:23

Word by word — the Hebrew

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 27:23–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 27:23

John Gill on Proverbs 27:23

Keil & Delitzsch on Proverbs 27:23–end

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Proverbs 27:23-27

Rashi on Proverbs 27:23