Proverbs 1 15

Proverbs 1:15 kjv

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

Proverbs 1:15 nkjv

My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;

Proverbs 1:15 niv

my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

Proverbs 1:15 esv

my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,

Proverbs 1:15 nlt

My child, don't go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.

Proverbs 1 verses

Proverbs 1 15 meaning

Proverbs 1:15 is a solemn paternal instruction urging a young man to actively and definitively dissociate himself from the harmful company and destructive schemes of the wicked. It conveys an urgent warning to avoid participation in their lifestyle and to refrain from adopting their unrighteous ways. The verse serves as a crucial boundary marker, emphasizing that wisdom dictates a clear separation from those who plot violence and gain through iniquity.

Proverbs 1 15 Context

Proverbs 1:15 is an integral part of the initial paternal instructions within the book of Proverbs, which lay the foundational principles for attaining wisdom and understanding. Specifically, verses 1:8-19 form a crucial section where the father warns his son against the enticement of sinners. This warning follows the foundational declaration of "the fear of the Lord" as the beginning of knowledge (Pro 1:7). The preceding verses (Pro 1:10-14) detail the specific temptation: associating with evil men who lie in wait to shed innocent blood and desire illicit gain, describing their eagerness to join forces for shared, destructive objectives. Against this backdrop, verse 15 offers a direct prohibition, compelling the son to distinguish himself morally and physically from such companionship and their perilous activities. The passage sets the tone for the entire book, establishing a clear dichotomy between the "way of the wise" and the "way of the wicked," urging a deliberate choice towards righteousness and discernment.

Proverbs 1 15 Word analysis

• My son (בְּנִֽי֙ - bᵊnî): A term of endearment and instruction, emphasizing the intimate relationship between the teacher (often the father, representing divine wisdom) and the disciple. It implies an appeal to obedience rooted in familial love and trust, highlighting the earnest desire for the recipient's well-being and moral formation.
• do not walk (אַל־תֵּ֣לֶךְ - ʾal-têleḵ): A strong negative imperative, indicating an absolute prohibition. "To walk" (הָלַךְ - halak) in Hebrew idiom often signifies one's conduct, lifestyle, or moral progression through life. The command is not merely against a single act but against a persistent course of action or pattern of behavior.
• in the way (בַדֶּ֖רֶךְ - baḏ·de·reḵ): "Way" (דֶּרֶךְ - dereḵ) refers to a specific course, manner of life, or a chosen moral path. In Proverbs, "the way" is a dominant motif, symbolizing different lifestyles – either righteous or wicked – and their respective destinations.
• with them (אִתָּ֑ם - ʾittām): Refers to the "sinners" and "wicked men" detailed in the immediately preceding verses (Pro 1:10-14). This highlights the danger of association, implying that companionship inevitably influences character and choices.
• keep (מְנַ֣ע - mᵊnaʿ): From the verb "מָנַע" (manaʿ), meaning to restrain, withhold, or refuse. This is an active command for intentional cessation or prevention, implying deliberate choice and strong willpower to resist temptation.
• your foot (רַגְלְךָ֣ - raḡlᵊḵā): "Foot" (רֶגֶל - regel) is a common metonymy for one's actions, movements, and by extension, one's entire life journey and choices. It vividly pictures the physical act of walking as symbolic of one's moral and spiritual journey.
• from their path (מִנְּתִיבָתָֽם - minnəṯîḇāṯām): "Path" (נְתִיבָה - nəṯîḇāh) is a poetic synonym for "way" (דֶּרֶךְ - dereḵ), used to reinforce the concept of a distinct and chosen course of life. The repetition emphasizes the critical need for a complete disassociation from the destructive habits and destinies of the wicked.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "do not walk in the way with them; keep your foot from their path": This phrase employs a parallelism common in Hebrew poetry. The first clause, "do not walk in the way with them," sets a general prohibition against sharing a life course with sinners. The second clause, "keep your foot from their path," intensifies and specifies this warning by focusing on the active withdrawal of one's actions and intentions from their harmful course. The imagery of "foot" and "path" concretizes the warning, moving from general association to specific, decisive non-participation in their plans. It implies not just avoidance of physically accompanying them but a moral refusal to engage in their deeds.

Proverbs 1 15 Bonus section

This verse initiates the fundamental biblical theme of the "two ways" or "two paths," where individuals must choose between a life of righteousness leading to blessing and a life of wickedness leading to destruction. This binary choice is foundational not only to Proverbs but permeates the entire Scripture, from the Law (Deut 30:15-20), through the Prophets, Psalms (Ps 1:1-6), and into the teachings of Jesus (Matt 7:13-14) and the Apostles (2 Cor 6:14-17). The warning in Pro 1:15 is a foundational instruction to choose God's wisdom over human folly by carefully guarding one's associations and deliberately charting a course apart from the wicked. It also implicitly highlights that the allure of easy gain or acceptance among a certain group must be weighed against the dire consequences of following their destructive "path."

Proverbs 1 15 Commentary

Proverbs 1:15 is a crucial warning for moral purity and discernment at the very outset of the Book of Proverbs. It underscores that true wisdom is not merely intellectual understanding but profoundly practical and moral, demanding separation from unrighteous influence. The instruction to "not walk in the way with them" signifies an unequivocal rejection of their entire lifestyle and moral trajectory, including their plans of violence and greedy pursuits previously described. Furthermore, to "keep your foot from their path" implies an active and conscious decision to withdraw, halt one's progress, and diverge completely from their direction, thereby preserving one's integrity and future. This command highlights the danger of peer influence and the necessity of establishing clear boundaries against sin. It teaches that one's associations fundamentally shape one's character and destiny, emphasizing that righteousness demands careful company.