Proverbs 1:18 kjv

And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

Proverbs 1:18 nkjv

But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

Proverbs 1:18 niv

These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!

Proverbs 1:18 esv

but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.

Proverbs 1:18 nlt

But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.

Proverbs 1 verses

Proverbs 1 18 Meaning

Proverbs 1:18 reveals a profound irony concerning the wicked: though they devise schemes to ambush and harm others, their malicious actions ultimately lead to their own demise and destruction. They metaphorically "lie in wait for their own blood" and "lurk secretly for their own lives," indicating that the violence and greed they unleash will boomerang back upon themselves, bringing about their inevitable ruin. This verse highlights the self-destructive nature of sin and the intrinsic justice of God's moral order.

Proverbs 1 18 Context

Proverbs chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the entire book, laying the foundational principles of wisdom, warning against folly, and setting the stage for the recurring themes of righteousness versus wickedness. Verses 8-19 form a cohesive warning specifically addressing young men about the enticement of sinful companions. Verses 11-14 describe the wicked enticing others with promises of quick wealth gained through violent ambush and plunder. Verse 16 emphasizes their eager haste for evil deeds. Verse 17 uses an analogy of a bird not fearing a visible net to illustrate the fool's blindness. Proverbs 1:18 then delivers a sharp, ironic twist, revealing that despite their schemes to entrap others, their hidden motives and violent acts will ultimately lead to their own demise. This immediate context reveals a universal moral law at play: the path of evil, though seemingly profitable, inevitably culminates in self-destruction. Historically and culturally, the target audience of Proverbs would be familiar with the dangers of bandits and ambushes, making the vivid imagery deeply resonant as a practical warning.

Proverbs 1 18 Word analysis

• But (וְהֵם - vehem): A strong adversative conjunction ("but they") that sharply contrasts with the previous verses. While the wicked seek to entrap others (v. 17), the reality is fundamentally opposite.
• they lie in wait (יֶאֱרֹבוּ - ye'erobu): From the Hebrew root אָרַב ('arab), meaning "to lie in ambush, to set a trap, to scheme secretively." It depicts the planned, covert, predatory nature of the wicked's actions. Used ironically here; they are the ones ambushed by their own actions.
• for their own blood (לְדָמָם - l'damam): "Blood" (דָם - dam) represents life itself, as life is in the blood (Lev 17:11). To lie in wait "for blood" signifies seeking to take a life violently. "Their own blood" points to the fatal self-inflicted consequence. This emphasizes physical destruction and violent death.
• they lurk secretly (יִצְפְּנוּ - yits'pnu): From the Hebrew root צָפַן (tsapan), meaning "to hide, to conceal, to store up." It conveys the clandestine and malicious plotting of the wicked. The parallelism with "lie in wait" reinforces the hidden nature of their destructive intent.
• for their own lives (לְנַפְשֹׁתָם - l'nafshotam): "Lives" (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh, plural nafshotam) broadly refers to the soul, life, or person. "Their own lives" directly underscores that their wicked pursuits are ultimately self-destructive, impacting their very being and existence. This parallels "blood," affirming both physical and holistic ruin.

Words-group analysis:

• "But they lie in wait for their own blood": This phrase directly inverts the wicked's intent. Their calculated ambush (lie in wait) is meant for others, but divine or natural justice ensures that the outcome targets their "own blood" – their very life. This is the heart of the ironic reversal.
• "they lurk secretly for their own lives": This is a poetic parallel that deepens the previous statement. The hidden, deceptive nature of their plans ("lurk secretly") will ultimately unravel and consume "their own lives." The secrecy of their evil intentions does not shield them from the inevitable self-destruction it brings.

Proverbs 1 18 Bonus section

• This verse encapsulates the "poetic justice" that runs as a strong current throughout biblical narratives and wisdom literature, emphasizing that actions have natural and divine consequences.
• It serves as a theological statement about God's justice, even if His hand is not explicitly named; the outcome described implies a righteous governance of the world where wickedness does not ultimately triumph.
• The phrase warns against the deceptive nature of sin, which promises freedom or gain but delivers enslavement and destruction.
• The imagery evokes a cosmic boomerang, where the trajectory of evil actions is predetermined to circle back and strike the one who initiated them.

Proverbs 1 18 Commentary

Proverbs 1:18 offers a stark, profound commentary on the nature and inevitable consequences of evil. It reveals a fundamental principle of the divine order: the moral universe ensures that injustice and violence ultimately rebound upon the perpetrators. While the wicked plot carefully to ambush and plunder others, motivated by greed for ill-gotten gain, their very schemes become snares for themselves. The "blood" and "lives" they seek to take from others are precisely what they jeopardize for themselves. This is not merely a moralistic warning but a description of spiritual and often physical reality; sin is inherently self-destructive. It devours the sinner from within or brings about external punitive consequences. This verse encourages living righteously, showing that true gain is never found in unrighteousness, as the path of evil leads directly to personal ruin. It serves as a reminder that shortcuts gained through malevolence are dead ends leading only to one's own undoing.