· Translation: KJV

Proverbs 14:28In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

The setting

Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon's court observing the bustling kingdom at its height, Jerusalem, Israel...

The emotion here: observing the rise and fall of kingdoms with sober wisdom

The original word

rab (רב) — multitude, abundance, the glory of many gathered together

Why it matters

Solomon's kingdom had over 3 million people at its peak, unprecedented in ancient Near East

Read with care

What most readers miss in Proverbs 14:28

This isn't about population growth — it's about leaders who can unite and retain people

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about church growth strategies, but it's actually warning leaders that driving people away destroys their own authority and effectiveness.

Bible Genome reading

Proverbs 14:28 — Bible Genome reading

EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotiondeciding
Literary typewisdom

Emotional genome

Comfort power30%
Quotability60%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance40%
Standalone70%
Themes:leadershipprosperity

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:28 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include leadership, prosperity. Notable phrases: multitude of people; king's glory.

Your reflection

What does Proverbs 14:28 mean to you, today?

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