Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 21 Holy Bible
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.
read chapter 29 in ASV
If a servant is gently cared for from his early years, he will become a cause of sorrow in the end.
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He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall in the end have him as a son.
read chapter 29 in DARBY
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
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read chapter 29 in WBT
He who pampers his servant from youth Will have him become a son in the end.
read chapter 29 in WEB
Whoso is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, `At' his latter end also he is continuator.
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 21. - He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child. The verb panak, which is not found elsewhere in the Old Testament, is rightly here translated as in the Vulgate, qui delicate nutrit. It refers to the spoiling a person by over-refinement, luxury, and pampering - a treatment peculiarly unsuitable in the case of a bond servant, and one which makes such forgetful of his dependent position. Septuagint, "He that liveth wantonly (κατασπαταλᾷ) from childhood shall be a servant." Shall have him become his son at the length; i.e. at length, like "at the last," equivalent to "at last" (Proverbs 5:11). The word rendered "son" (מַנון, manon) is of doubtful meaning, and has been variously understood or misunderstood by interpreters. Septuagint, "And in the end shall have pain (ὀδυνηθήσεται) over himself;" Symmachus, "shall have murmuring (ἔστα γογγυσμός);" Vulgate, Postea sentiet eum contumacem. Ewald translates "ungrateful;" Delitzsch, "place of increase," i.e. a household of pampered scapegraces; but one does not see how the disaster can be called a place or a house. It seems safest in this uncertainty to adopt the Jewish interpretation of "progeny:" "he will be as a son." The pampered servant will end by claiming the privileges of a son, and perhaps ousting the legitimate children from their inheritance (comp. Proverbs 17:2; and the case of Ziba and Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 16:4). "Fodder, a stick, and burdens are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work for a servant. If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest; but if thou let him go idle, he will seek liberty" (Ecclus. 33:24, etc.). Spiritual writers have applied this proverb to the pampering of the flesh, which ought to be under the control of its master, the spirit, but which, if gratified and unrestrained, gets the upper hand, and, like a spoiled servant, dictates to its lord.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) Shall have him become his son at the last.--Confidential slaves sometimes rose to be the heirs of their master's property. (See above on Proverbs 17:2.) But here the warning seems to be rather against spoiling a slave by over-indulgence, lest he at the last forget his position, just as old and petted servants are apt to become somewhat dictatorial.