💡WEB · Proverbs 17:23
What does Proverbs 17:23 mean?
"A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice."
— Proverbs 17:23 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Explanation
Proverbs 17:23 states a simple, direct observation about human corruption: a wicked person takes a bribe secretly in order to twist or subvert what is just and right. The verse describes a specific pattern—someone with bad character accepts a hidden payment, and the purpose of that payment is to bend the outcome of a legal or moral judgment away from truth and fairness. The word "secret" is important; the transaction is not open or accountable but deliberately concealed because both giver and receiver know it is wrong.
This proverb comes from the collection attributed to Solomon, written to instruct young men and leaders in Israel about wisdom for daily living, especially in matters of justice, speech, family, and business. Ancient Israelite society, like most agrarian and tribal societies, relied heavily on local elders, judges, and officials to settle disputes fairly at the city gate. Bribery was a real and persistent temptation in such a system, since those in positions of judgment often had significant power over people's land, livelihood, and even life. The Proverbs repeatedly warn against this practice (see also Proverbs 15:27, 17:8, and 21:14), reflecting a broader biblical concern, rooted in the Law of Moses (Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19), that bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts justice.
Theologically, this verse reveals that corruption is not just a legal problem but a moral and spiritual one. The Bible consistently ties justice to God's own character—he is described as the righteous Judge who "shows
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