Proverbs 21:16
in Proverbs 21The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
KJV
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
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This verse in Proverbs 21
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThe man who strays from the way of doctrine, etc. He says that the giants are unclean spirits, about which the blessed Job says, "Behold, the giants groan beneath the waters, and those who dwell with them" (Job 26:5), that is, proud and malevolent strong …
This site's exposition
A gift in secret soothes anger
on Proverbs 21:14-16
"A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath," an observation of a common tactic that stops short of commending it. "Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity," one act producing opposite feelings on either side.
This site's exposition
will rest in the assembly of the dead
Adam Clarke reads the dead here as the rephaim, the assembly of departed spirits in conscious existence. Bede, following a text that reads giants, takes them as unclean spirits. The man who strays from understanding will rest there.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The man once enlightened, that wandereth out of the way of understanding, in which he had walked, shall remain - have a permanent residence - in the congregation of the dead; רפאים rephaim, the lost; either separate spirits in general, or rather the assembly of separate spirits, which had fallen from primitive rectitude; and shall not be restored to the Divine favor; particularly those sinners who were destroyed by the deluge. This passage intimates that those called rephaim are in a state of conscious existence.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
congregation of the dead - The Rephaim (compare the Pro 2:18 note). Remain - i. e., “He shall find a resting place, but it shall be in Hades.”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A man who strays from the way of understanding From the Torah.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
shall be a poor man He who loves the joy of always banqueting.
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. 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אָדָ֗ם | ʾadam | a person | H120 → | 551 times |
| תּ֭וֹעֶה | toeh | [who] wanders | H8582 → | 50 times |
| מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ | miderekh | from [the] way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל | haskel | insight | H7919 → | 62 times |
| בִּקְהַ֖ל | bikhal | in [the] assembly of | H6951 → | 123 times |
| רְפָאִ֣ים | refaim | [the] shades | H7496 → | 8 times |
| יָנֽוּחַ׃ | yanuach | he will rest | H5117 → | 142 times |
אָדָ֗םa person
ʾadamH120 →551 times
תּ֭וֹעֶה[who] wanders
toehH8582 →50 times
מִדֶּ֣רֶךְfrom [the] way of
miderekhH1870 →707 times
הַשְׂכֵּ֑לinsight
haskelH7919 →62 times
בִּקְהַ֖לin [the] assembly of
bikhalH6951 →123 times
רְפָאִ֣ים[the] shades
refaimH7496 →8 times
יָנֽוּחַ׃he will rest
yanuachH5117 →142 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
Hebrews 10:38But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
it leads to
- Galatians 3:11
Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Habakkuk 2:4
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—
- Romans 1:17
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
- Psalms 85:8
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.
- Hebrews 6:4–6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
- Galatians 3:11
Through
1 John 2:19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of…
it leads to
- Acts 20:30
Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
- 1 Corinthians 11:19
And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
- Jude 1:19
These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.
- Acts 20:30
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.