Lexical Summary razon: Leanness, Emaciation Original Word: רָזוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prince From razan; a dignitary -- prince. see HEBREW razan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom razan Definition potentate NASB Translation prince's (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. רָזוֺן noun masculine potentate; — absolute ׳ר Proverbs 14:28 ("" מֶלֶךְ). — I. רָזוֺן see below רזה above Topical Lexicon Usage in Scripture Proverbs 14:28 contains the single biblical appearance of רָזוֹן: “A large population is a king’s glory, but a lack of people is a prince’s ruin” (Berean Standard Bible). Here the term designates a governing figure of high rank whose honor depends on the well-being and number of those he leads. The verse sets a king’s splendor over against a prince (razon) facing calamity because his people have dwindled. Historical Context In the Ancient Near Eastern world a ruler’s stature rose or fell with his subjects. National security, economic strength, and cultural influence all required an abundant populace. Solomon’s building projects (1 Kings 9:20-23) and the chronicling of censuses (Numbers 1; 2 Samuel 24) illustrate how Israel measured stability by demographic vigor. Proverbs 14:28 distills this reality into wisdom form: population is political capital, and its loss spells disaster for even the loftiest official. Theological Significance 1. Authority as stewardship. While “there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1), the verse underscores that legitimacy is relational; rulers flourish only when their people prosper (2 Samuel 23:3-4). Intertextual Connections • Proverbs 25:15 employs the cognate plural “dignitaries,” linking רָזוֹן to officials whose influence is weighty yet fragile. Christological Horizon Human princes can suffer ruin, but Isaiah 9:6-7 presents the “Prince of Peace” whose government forever increases. Revelation 7:9-10 portrays a redeemed multitude that eternally magnifies this King, fulfilling the ideal hinted at in Proverbs 14:28—a ruler whose glory is boundless because His people are innumerable. Insights for Ministry • Leadership validation comes through the flourishing of followers; pastors and elders gauge success by spiritual growth, not mere position (1 Peter 5:2-4). Contemporary Application Proverbs 14:28 with its solitary רָזוֹן remains a concise admonition: titles and offices are empty when people wither. True greatness resides in nurturing, protecting, and multiplying those entrusted to one’s care, reflecting the character of the ultimate, unruinable Prince. Forms and Transliterations רָזֽוֹן׃ רזון׃ raZonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 14:28 HEB: לְ֝אֹ֗ם מְחִתַּ֥ת רָזֽוֹן׃ NAS: of people is a prince's ruin. KJV: [is] the destruction of the prince. INT: of people ruin prince's 1 Occurrence |
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