Bible Strands
Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Proverbs addresses readers within a wisdom collection, positioning this maxim between a warning about concealing sin and a description of oppressive rulers.
The words — The Hebrew מְפַחֵד (me.pa.Ched) means "fears" or "reveres," while מַקְשֶׁה (ma.kSheh) translates to "hardens."
The thread — The passage aligns with the call to continual reverence in Proverbs 23:17, the command to serve with trembling in Psalms 2:11, and the portrait of God’s esteemed one in Isaiah 66:2.
Why it lands — The text states that continual reverence brings blessing while a hardened heart guarantees falling into calamity, requiring the reader to choose sustained reverence over stubborn resistance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
- Isaiah 66:2 Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
- Jeremiah 32:40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me.
- Romans 11:20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
- Psalms 112:1 Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
- 1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
- Psalms 95:8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,
- Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
- Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.