Proverbs 28:4
in Proverbs 28Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
KJV
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
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This verse in Proverbs 28
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThe Stoics laid down their doctrine on the basis that the goal is to live according to nature, using the word nature improperly rather than "God," since nature applies to plants, crops, trees and stones. At any rate, there is the clear statement, "Scoundrels think nothing of the law, but those who love the law set it in front of them like a wall." For "the wisdom of able men will understand the paths of wisdom, but the folly of fools goes in the wrong direction."
This site's exposition
A land in rebellion has many rulers
on Proverbs 28:2-4
"A land in rebellion has many rulers" reads a nation's instability as the fruit of its own sin. The oppressor of the poor is "like a driving rain that leaves no food." Verse 4 closes the group on the law, since those who forsake it praise the wicked.
This site's exposition
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked
The verse measures a man's hold on the law by what he says of the wicked. Clement of Alexandria renders the second line as those who love the law setting it before them like a wall. Praise and resistance are the two answers.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
They that forsake the law praise the wicked,.... Who are like them; who forsake and transgress the law, as they do; every like loves its like; wicked men delight in sin, the transgression of the law, and in those that do it.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
They that forsake the law - He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| עֹזְבֵ֣י | ʾozevei | [those who] forsake | H5800 → | 215 times |
| ת֭וֹרָה | torah | <of> [the] law | H8451 → | 219 times |
| יְהַֽלְל֣וּ | yehalu | they praise | H1984 → | 165 times |
| רָשָׁ֑ע | rasha' | [the] wicked | H7563 → | 263 times |
| וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י | veshomerei | and [those who] keep | H8104 → | 468 times |
| ת֝וֹרָ֗ה | torah | <of> [the] law | H8451 → | 219 times |
| יִתְגָּ֥רוּ | yitgaru | they engage in strife | H1624 → | 14 times |
| בָֽם׃ פ | vam | with them |
עֹזְבֵ֣י[those who] forsake
ʾozeveiH5800 →215 times
ת֭וֹרָה<of> [the] law
torahH8451 →219 times
יְהַֽלְל֣וּthey praise
yehaluH1984 →165 times
רָשָׁ֑ע[the] wicked
rasha'H7563 →263 times
וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥יand [those who] keep
veshomereiH8104 →468 times
ת֝וֹרָ֗ה<of> [the] law
torahH8451 →219 times
יִתְגָּ֥רוּthey engage in strife
yitgaruH1624 →14 times
בָֽם׃ פwith them
vam
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
Ephesians 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
it leads to
- Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- 1 Timothy 5:20
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received…
- 2 John 1:10–11
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
- Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- Romans 13:12
Through
Romans 1:32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
it leads to
- Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- Romans 2:1–5
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
- Romans 6:21
What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- Romans 1:21
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 2 and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).