Proverbs 16:25 kjv
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 16:25 nkjv
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 16:25 niv
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 16:25 esv
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 16:25 nlt
There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.
Proverbs 16 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. | Exact duplicate; emphasizes critical truth. |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Human heart's deceptive nature. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many, For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life... | Contrasts paths to life and destruction. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Consequence of sin is spiritual death. |
| Prov 12:15 | The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. | Foolishness in self-reliance. |
| Prov 21:2 | Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. | God's discernment vs. human perception. |
| Judges 21:25 | In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. | Societal chaos when truth is relative. |
| Deut 32:5 | They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemish, a perverse and crooked generation. | Consequences of deviation from God's path. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord... | God's wisdom far surpasses human wisdom. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. | Rely on God, not self-understanding. |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” | Jesus is the exclusive true way. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. | Christ as the sole source of salvation. |
| Gal 6:7-8 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. | Principle of reaping consequences for choices. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. | Scripture guides to the true path. |
| Titus 1:16 | They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. | Deceptive self-profession of faith. |
| 1 John 1:8 | If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. | Self-deception regarding sinfulness. |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. | The ultimate "death" as separation. |
| Ps 1:6 | For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. | Contrast of ways and their divine outcomes. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools... | Result of turning away from God's truth. |
| Eph 4:17-19 | Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds... they have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality... | Describes the self-chosen, destructive paths. |
| Ps 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. | Atheism and self-determination leading to corruption. |
| Luke 13:24 | Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. | Effort required to find the right way. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | ...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” | God's perception transcends human superficiality. |
Proverbs 16 verses
Proverbs 16 25 Meaning
Proverbs 16:25 states, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." This profound proverb warns against the danger of human self-deception regarding moral and spiritual paths. What appears reasonable, beneficial, or even righteous from a limited human perspective, devoid of divine wisdom, can ultimately lead to ruin, separation from God, and eternal death. It underscores humanity's inherent fallibility in discerning ultimate truth and genuine good, highlighting the crucial need for reliance on God's guidance.
Proverbs 16 25 Context
Proverbs 16, part of the Solomonic collections, deeply explores the themes of wisdom, folly, and God's sovereignty over human endeavors. The chapter consistently emphasizes that while humans make plans, God directs their steps and determines outcomes (vv. 1, 9). It contrasts self-reliance with dependence on God, urging humility and righteousness (vv. 3, 5, 7, 18-19). Verse 25 stands as a critical warning within this chapter, serving as a solemn counterpoint to human ambition and self-assuredness by reminding the reader that even seemingly logical or popular paths can lead to ruin if they deviate from divine truth. Its presence immediately following Proverbs 16:24, which praises gracious words that are "sweetness to the soul and health to the body," highlights a stark contrast: external pleasantness versus internal deceit that leads to destruction. This proverb speaks to an inherent human tendency that wisdom must directly confront.
Proverbs 16 25 Word analysis
There is a way (
יֵשׁ דֶּרֶךְ, Yesh derek):Yesh(יֵשׁ): Exists, there is. Simple declaration of reality.Derek(דֶּרֶךְ): Path, road, journey, course of life, conduct, manner. In biblical thought, "way" is frequently used metaphorically for a person's conduct or life choices. It implies a chosen direction, a course of action that defines one's life.
that seems right (
יָשָׁר לְאִישׁ, yashar le'ish):Yashar(יָשָׁר): Straight, upright, correct, pleasing, agreeable. Here, it signifies something appearing just, good, or appropriate. The nuance is critical: it "seems" right, suggesting a subjective perception, not objective truth or divine alignment.Le'ish(לְאִישׁ): "To a man" or "in the eyes of a man," "to an individual." It points to the limited, often biased, human perspective. What man perceives as straight might be fundamentally crooked from God's eternal perspective.
to a man, (part of
le'ishas explained above).but its end (
וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ, ve'acharitah):Ve(וְ): And, but. Serves as a strong adversative, introducing a contrasting consequence.Acharit(אַחֲרִיתָהּ): The end, outcome, latter state, future, consequence. It denotes the definitive, ultimate culmination or destiny of that "way." This word highlights the long-term, irreversible result of the chosen path.
is the way of death. (
דַּרְכֵי־מָוֶת, darchey-mavet):Darchey(דַּרְכֵי): Plural construct form ofderek(way, path). Here, it can mean "the paths of death," implying various avenues that lead to death, or the nature of the way is one of death.Mavet(מָוֶת): Death, ruin, destruction. In this context, "death" is far more than physical cessation. It encompasses spiritual death—separation from God, eternal damnation, utter ruin of the soul. It stands in stark contrast to "life" (chayim), which represents divine blessing and true existence.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "There is a way that seems right to a man": This phrase highlights human autonomy and cognitive bias. Humans possess the capacity to formulate their own principles and course of action, which they genuinely perceive as correct or beneficial based on their limited understanding, personal desires, or cultural norms. This "seeming right" often arises from self-confidence, intellectual pride, or a lack of humility to seek or accept divine revelation.
- "but its end is the way of death.": This contrasts the initial deceptive appearance with the final, stark reality. The phrase emphatically states the inevitable, catastrophic consequence of following such a self-determined path. The destination is not merely a negative outcome, but ultimate spiritual and eternal "death," signifying separation from the source of all life and blessing (God). This warning stresses that a seemingly innocuous choice can have eternal ramifications.
Proverbs 16 25 Bonus section
- The repetition of this identical proverb (Prov 14:12 and 16:25) is highly significant within the Book of Proverbs, indicating its profound and foundational importance. This duplication is rare and emphasizes that the warning about human self-deception concerning life's path is a cornerstone truth essential for understanding wisdom literature and human nature.
- The contrast is implicitly between man's flawed perception (
yashar le'ish) and God's absolute standard of righteousness (yashar YHWH). True "rightness" is always defined by God's character and commands, not human feelings or reasoning. - This proverb is not just about avoiding "bad" things, but also about the dangers of pursuing what we perceive as "good" but which ultimately distances us from God's intended life and blessing, leading to spiritual demise.
- It highlights the importance of the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7), which is the starting point for true wisdom and the discernment of the genuine "way" that leads to life. Without reverent awe of God, human judgment becomes skewed.
Proverbs 16 25 Commentary
Proverbs 16:25 is a critical wisdom principle revealing a core human dilemma: our inherent inability to reliably discern ultimate truth and guide ourselves towards true flourishing apart from divine revelation. Humanity, without God, relies on skewed judgment, where what "seems right" aligns with fallen inclinations or incomplete knowledge, leading invariably to a "way of death." This is not necessarily about intentional evil but about subjective "good" or "logic" that deviates from God's perfect standard. This verse profoundly underscores the biblical anthropology of a fallen human heart, whose natural bent is not towards life, but inadvertently towards destruction. It exposes the futility of human reasoning when untethered from God's wisdom and underscores the foundational truth found elsewhere in Scripture: true "life" and the "right way" are found only in submission to God and through the person of Jesus Christ, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Therefore, this proverb serves as a call to humility, urging individuals to abandon self-reliance and turn to God's revealed Word for discernment.