Proverbs 17:23

“A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, etc.] Of another, of a rich man, who takes it out from thence, and offers it to him as a bribe. This he takes in the most secret manner, that it might not be seen by others; though the Arabic version renders it, “he that receives a gift in his own bosom commits iniquity”; it is true of both the giver and the receiver; the one gives out of his bosom, and the other takes if from thence, and puts it into his own, and both are wicked. And the words are by some rendered, though it seems contrary to the accents, “a gift out of the bosom of the wicked he will take”f506; the unjust judge, who is bribed with it: to pervert the ways of judgment; to turn…”

“a gift . . . bosom--Money and other valuables were borne in a fold of the garment, called the bosom. to pervert--that is, by bribery.”

“The words “out of the bosom,” from the fold of the garment, rather than from the bag or girdle in which money was usually carried, possibly point to the stealthiness with which the “gift” (or, bribe) is offered to the judge. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Pro 17:8, Pro 18:16, Pro 21:14; Exo 23:8; Deu 16:19; Sa1 8:3, Sa1 12:3; Isa 1:23; Eze 22:12; Mic 7:3; Mar 14:10, Mar 14:11 Proverbs 17:24”

“23 Bribery from the bosom the godless receiveth, To pervert the ways of justice. Regarding שׂחד, vid., Pro 17:8. The idea of this word, as well as the clause containing the purpose, demand for the רשׁע a high judicial or administrative post. The bosom, חק (חיק), is, as Pro 16:23, that of the clothing. From the bosom, מחק, where it was kept concealed, the gift is brought forth, and is given into the bosom, בּחק, Pro 21:14, of him whose favour is to be obtained - an event taking place under four eyes, which purposely withdraws itself from the observation of any third person. Since this is done to give to the course of justice a direction contrary to rectitude, the giver of the bribe has not…”