Proverbs 1:17 kjv
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
Proverbs 1:17 nkjv
Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;
Proverbs 1:17 niv
How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
Proverbs 1:17 esv
For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
Proverbs 1:17 nlt
If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
Proverbs 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk in the pit... In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. | The wicked fall into their own traps. |
| Psa 35:8 | Let a destruction come upon him which he knows not; and let his net that he has hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. | Oppressors ensnared by their own designs. |
| Psa 57:6 | They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. | Schemers caught in their own pitfalls. |
| Psa 64:8 | So they will make their own tongue fall upon themselves... | Wickedness brings self-destruction. |
| Psa 141:9-10 | Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape safely. | Righteous escape; wicked fall. |
| Prov 1:18 | And they lie in wait for their own blood; they lie in wait for their own lives. | Direct continuation: robbers destroy themselves. |
| Prov 1:19 | So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. | Greed leads to self-destruction. |
| Prov 5:22 | His own iniquities entrap the wicked man; he is caught in the cords of his sin. | Sin as a self-made snare. |
| Prov 6:5 | Deliver yourself as a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. | Warning to escape snares of temptation. |
| Prov 7:23 | ...till an arrow strikes through his liver; as a bird hurries to the snare, and does not know that it is for his life. | Human folly compared to an ignorant bird. |
| Prov 13:20 | He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. | Association with sinners leads to harm. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Internal causes of destruction. |
| Prov 22:3 | A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. | Contrast: wise foresight vs. simple ignorance. |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. | Poetic justice: self-inflicted harm. |
| Prov 28:10 | Whoever leads the upright astray into an evil way will fall into his own pit; but the blameless will inherit good. | Treacherous acts recoil on the perpetrator. |
| Eccl 7:26 | And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. Whoever pleases God shall escape her, but the sinner shall be caught by her. | Specific snare (immoral woman) for the sinner. |
| Jer 5:26-27 | For among My people are found wicked men; they lie in wait, as one who sets snares; they set a trap, they catch men. | Wicked plot for gain against others. |
| Matt 10:16 | "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." | Call for spiritual wisdom and discernment. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | ...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him... Professing to be wise, they became fools. | Human rejection of truth leading to folly. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all evil. | Desire for wealth as a snare to destruction. |
Proverbs 1 verses
Proverbs 1 17 Meaning
Proverbs 1:17 declares that it is utterly futile to spread a net where a bird can clearly see it, because the bird, discerning the visible danger, will simply avoid the snare. The verse, however, sets up a poignant irony: while even a simple creature possesses enough instinctual wisdom to evade an obvious trap, foolish human beings often plunge headlong into visible dangers and self-destructive schemes, particularly those rooted in greed and violence, failing to perceive the clear consequences awaiting them.
Proverbs 1 17 Context
Proverbs 1 is the introduction to the primary section of the book, presenting wisdom as a vital pursuit, contrasting it with the path of folly. The verse specifically resides within a father's urgent instruction to his son, warning him against associating with and participating in the violent, greedy schemes of "sinners" (vv. 8-19). This parental warning outlines the deceptive appeal and ultimate destructive nature of such partnerships. Verse 17 uses an immediate and universally understood animal analogy to underscore the sheer foolishness of those who, unlike the intuitive bird avoiding a visible net, willingly run headlong into schemes of robbery and murder for gain. The cultural context would be one where snares for birds were a common sight, making the analogy relatable and impactful. The following verses (18-19) immediately reveal the ironic truth: these violent schemers are, in fact, "lying in wait for their own blood; they are setting a snare for their own lives," showing that they are the true victims of their own obviously laid traps.
Proverbs 1 17 Word analysis
- Indeed, in vain (שָׁוְא - šāwʾ):
Šāwʾmeans empty, worthless, futile, vanity, or deception. Here it emphasizes the utter uselessness or pointlessness of the action being described from the bird's perspective. It highlights the obviousness of the trap. The idea of "in vain" points to a clear and unavoidable outcome, in this case, the bird's non-capture. - the net (רֶשֶׁת - rešet):
Rešetrefers to a net, snare, or trap, specifically one used for fowling or hunting. It symbolizes any enticement or pitfall intended to capture or harm. - is spread (פֹרֵשׂ - pōreś):
Pōreśmeans to spread out, stretch out, or extend. It vividly depicts the trap being openly laid, not concealed. The image is one of a visible setup. - in the sight of (עֵין - ʿēn):
ʿĒnliterally means "eye" but often functions as "in the sight of," "in the presence of," or "visible to." It explicitly states that the trap is not hidden but openly displayed, implying the target's full awareness. - any bird (צִפּוֹר - ṣippôr):
Ṣippôris a general term for a bird or fowl. The choice of "any bird" highlights that even the most instinct-driven creature possesses sufficient basic wisdom or survival instinct to avoid an openly visible, easily detectable threat.
Words-group analysis:
- "Indeed, in vain the net is spread": This phrase establishes the futility of an unconcealed trap. The net cannot fulfill its purpose when its presence is obvious. It immediately sets up the paradoxical contrast with human folly.
- "in the sight of any bird": This specifies the condition under which the net's spreading is in vain. The bird's awareness is key. This highlights an animal's capacity for simple, direct perception of danger, which the foolish person lacks regarding spiritual or moral traps.
Proverbs 1 17 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces a key theme of the Proverbs: that wickedness is inherently self-destructive. The visible net symbolizes not just an obvious danger, but the very schemes of the wicked which, unknown to them, are actually set for their own downfall (Prov 5:22; 26:27). The perceived "wisdom" of the predatory human—laying a snare for others—is exposed as an inferior discernment compared to the basic instinct of a bird to preserve itself. This highlights God's design: sin ultimately backfires on the sinner, revealing divine justice even in the natural order. It is a polemic against human arrogance and perceived cleverness in plotting evil, affirming that true wisdom, often found in simple discernment, reveals the futility and danger of the ungodly path.
Proverbs 1 17 Commentary
Proverbs 1:17 serves as a striking parable, setting the stage for the book's deep dive into the contrast between wisdom and folly. The core message is one of irony and self-deception. While a literal bird demonstrates fundamental discernment by avoiding an openly visible net, those addressed in Proverbs, particularly the naive youth susceptible to sinful temptations, often lack even this basic foresight. They, unlike the bird, foolishly walk into traps of their own making, or traps that are glaringly obvious in their moral implications and destructive outcomes. The "net" represents the allure of quick gain through illicit means (robbery, violence), which is presented as something clearly dangerous to one's well-being. The subsequent verses in Proverbs 1 directly apply this animal analogy to humans, revealing that those who plot evil for others ultimately fall into the snare of their own devising, literally "lying in wait for their own blood." It is a foundational warning that sin’s path, despite its superficial enticements, has clearly marked destinations of destruction, visible to anyone willing to see with wisdom, but often ignored by the fool rushing headlong towards personal ruin.
Practical usage examples:
- Ignoring clear financial warnings (e.g., get-rich-quick schemes, unchecked debt) despite visible signs of danger.
- Engaging in gossip or slander, clearly seeing how it harms others and damages one's own reputation, yet continuing the behavior.
- Remaining in obviously destructive relationships or environments, even when the signs of toxicity and harm are evident.