Proverbs 28:1
in Proverbs 28The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.
KJV
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
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This verse in Proverbs 28
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe wicked flee when no one pursues. He who is not strong in faith sometimes deserts faith of his own accord, even if no persecutor pursues him, when he renders himself similar to the infidel by thefts, perjuries, fornications, poisonings, and other such crimes.
This site's exposition
The wicked flee when no one pursues
"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion" states the chapter's key contrast. Guilt invents its own pursuers, while a clear conscience needs no army. The fleeing wicked picture a mind unable to rest, and the lion pictures a settled confidence.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For such is the nature of sin, that it betrays whilst no one finds fault; it condemns whilst no one accuses; it makes the sinner a timid being; one that trembles at a sound; even as righteousness has the contrary effect. Hear, at least, how the Scripture describes this cowardice of the former, and this boldness of the latter. "The wicked flee when no man pursueth." How doth he flee when no man pursueth? He hath that within which drives him on—an accuser in his conscience; and this he carries about everywhere; and just as it would be impossible to flee from himself, so neither can he escape the persecutor within; but wherever he goeth, he is scourged, and hath an incurable wound! But not such is the righteous man. Of what nature then is he? Hear: "The righteous is bold as a lion!" Such a man was Elias. He saw, for instance, the king coming towards him, and when he said, "Why is it that thou pervertest Israel?" he answered, "I pervert not Israel, but thou and thy father's house." Truly, the just man is bold as a lion; for he stood up against the king just as a lion doth against some vile cur.
The Medieval Church3 voices
[The righteous] will fear none of the things here enumerated, as it is written, "The righteous man is bold as a lion," daring all things through faith, not as one who tempts the Lord but as one who has confidence in Him, and as one …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In the same manner, there are four acts of justice: to do good, to flee evil, to beware of prosperity, and to withstand misfortune. The fourth is referred to in Proverbs: "The just man, like a lion, feels sure of himself." There is also this: …
But the righteous are as confident as a lion, etc. The lion does not tremble in the face of beasts because he knows he prevails over all. Thus, the security of righteous men is rightly compared to a lion, because when he sees anyone rising …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The wicked flee when no man pursueth,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The wicked flee - Every wicked man, however bold he may appear, is full of dreary apprehensions relative to both worlds. But the righteous has true courage, being conscious of his own innocence, and the approbation of his God. The unpitious fleeith - Old MS. Bible. This word is often used for impious, wicked, ungodly; hence it appears that our word pity anciently meant piety or godliness.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
The wicked flee without a pursuer The wicked flee when their misfortune comes, and they fall on an insignificant thing without a pursuer.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נָ֣סוּ | nasu | they flee | H5127 → | |
| וְאֵין־ | veein- | and there not | H369 → | 789 times |
| רֹדֵ֣ף | rodef | [is one who] pursues | H7291 → | 143 times |
| רָשָׁ֑ע | rasha' | [the] wicked | H7563 → | 263 times |
| וְ֝צַדִּיקִ֗ים | vetzadikim | and righteous [people] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| כִּכְפִ֥יר | kikhfir | like a young lion | H3715 → | 32 times |
| יִבְטָֽח׃ | yivtach | he is confident | H982 → | 120 times |
נָ֣סוּthey flee
nasuH5127 →
וְאֵין־and there not
veein-H369 →789 times
רֹדֵ֣ף[is one who] pursues
rodefH7291 →143 times
רָשָׁ֑ע[the] wicked
rasha'H7563 →263 times
וְ֝צַדִּיקִ֗יםand righteous [people]
vetzadikimH6662 →206 times
כִּכְפִ֥ירlike a young lion
kikhfirH3715 →32 times
יִבְטָֽח׃he is confident
yivtachH982 →120 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 28:7The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you in one direction but flee from you in seven.
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 22:38–41
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.
- Leviticus 26:7–8
You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you.
- Psalms 89:23
I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
- 2 Chronicles 32:21–22
and the LORD sent an angel who annihilated every mighty man of valor and every leader and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew to his own land in…
- Joshua 8:22
Meanwhile, those in the ambush came out of the city against them, and the men of Ai were trapped between the Israelite forces on both sides. So Israel struck them down until no survivor…
- 2 Samuel 22:38–41
Through
Psalms 112:7He does not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
it leads to
- Isaiah 26:3–4
You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Proverbs 1:33
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
- Psalms 57:7
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make music.
- Isaiah 26:3–4
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Isaac of Nineveh, ASCETICAL HOMILY 7; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 8:3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.