Proverbs 6:18
in Proverbs 6a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
KJV
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
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This verse in Proverbs 6
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
seven that are detestable to Him
on Proverbs 6:16-19
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven” is a numerical form, a full list pressed one item past its round number. The list runs from “haughty eyes” through tongue, hands, heart and feet, and settles in the community with “one who stirs up discord among brothers”.
This site's exposition
a heart that devises wicked schemes
Clarke pictures this heart as a builder who lays the foundation of evil, builds on it and completes the structure. Feet that run swiftly carry out what the heart has planned. The worthless man of verse 14 does both.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 6:18 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
"A heart that forges evil thoughts." Indeed, since the heart was impure, it also made the limbs impure, so that it shed the poison to its extremities.… By "brothers" he [Solomon] means those who have obtained the grace of adoption and are subjected to Christ our father. When unjust or lustful thoughts come to them, these thoughts try to trouble them. In fact, they inflame them to anger which causes hatred, and to evil desires which bring about immoral actions.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,....
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֵ֗ב | lev | a heart | H3820 → | 595 times |
| חֹ֭רֵשׁ | choresh | [which] devises | H2790 → | 74 times |
| מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת | machshevot | plans of | H4284 → | 56 times |
| אָ֑וֶן | ʾaven | wickedness | H205 → | 77 times |
| רַגְלַ֥יִם | raglayim | feet | H7272 → | 247 times |
| מְ֝מַהֲר֗וֹת | memaharot | [which] hurry | H4116 → | 68 times |
| לָר֥וּץ | larutz | to run | H7323 → | 103 times |
| לָֽרָעָה׃ | laraah | to <the> evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
לֵ֗בa heart
levH3820 →595 times
חֹ֭רֵשׁ[which] devises
choreshH2790 →74 times
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתplans of
machshevotH4284 →56 times
אָ֑וֶןwickedness
ʾavenH205 →77 times
רַגְלַ֥יִםfeet
raglayimH7272 →247 times
מְ֝מַהֲר֗וֹת[which] hurry
memaharotH4116 →68 times
לָר֥וּץto run
larutzH7323 →103 times
לָֽרָעָה׃to <the> evil
laraahH7451 →662 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
Genesis 6:5Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
it leads to
- Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
- Romans 1:28–31
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
- Mark 7:21–23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
- Jeremiah 4:14
Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- Matthew 15:19
Through
Romans 3:15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
it leads to
- Isaiah 59:7–8
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
- Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
- Isaiah 59:7–8
Through
Psalms 36:4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:16
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 4:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 6:18 and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).
