Proverbs 17:19 kjv

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

Proverbs 17:19 nkjv

He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

Proverbs 17:19 niv

Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

Proverbs 17:19 esv

Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

Proverbs 17:19 nlt

Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;
anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

Proverbs 17 verses

Proverbs 17 19 Meaning

Proverbs 17:19 declares that there is a direct link between an individual's inclination towards conflict and their underlying love for sin. Someone who habitually embraces contention and quarreling essentially has an affection for doing what is wrong or rebellious against divine order. Furthermore, the verse teaches that those who proudly elevate their status, security, or self-importance – symbolized by exalting one's gate – are actively pursuing their own ruin and downfall. Both actions, loving strife and exhibiting pride, are portrayed as paths leading directly to self-destruction.

Proverbs 17 19 Context

Proverbs 17 falls within the third major section of the book, which consists of individual proverbial sayings (chapters 10-22). These verses often present wisdom through parallelism, contrasting righteous and wicked behavior and their respective consequences. This particular verse employs synthetic parallelism in its two clauses, where the second line reinforces or elaborates on the first. The chapter as a whole continues to offer sharp insights into human conduct, often focusing on speech, character, family, and wealth, consistently underscoring that moral integrity leads to blessing, while folly and wickedness lead to ruin. The cultural setting emphasizes the significance of communal life, where individual actions impact the social fabric, and the city gate served as a vital hub for legal, commercial, and social activities.

Proverbs 17 19 Word analysis

• He loves (אָהֵב, ’ahev): This verb signifies a strong affection, desire, or devotion, not merely a casual preference. It implies that the person is deeply committed to and finds satisfaction in the activity, actively pursuing it.
• transgression (פֶּשַׁע, pesha’): This word refers to a rebellious act, a breach of trust, or a revolt against authority, particularly against God's law or established moral order. It denotes intentional wrongdoing rather than an accidental slip.
• who loves: Repetition emphasizes the deep, personal affinity.
• strife (מַצָּה, matstah): Refers to contention, quarreling, contention, argument, or a quarrelsome disposition. It signifies a readiness or desire for conflict and disharmony.
• He who exalts (גָּבַהּ, gavah): To lift oneself up, to be high, lofty, or arrogant. This often carries the negative connotation of pride, haughtiness, or an excessive sense of self-importance beyond proper bounds.
• his gate (שַׁעַר, sha’ar): In ancient Near Eastern cities, the gate was the most prominent part of the city. It symbolized defense, justice (where elders and judges sat), commerce, and status. To "exalt one's gate" could imply an excessive concern for outward display, security, status, or a prideful ambition to dominate and fortify oneself beyond God's will. It points to self-aggrandizement.
• seeks (בָּקַשׁ, baqash): This verb means to search, strive, demand, or require. It denotes an active pursuit or seeking out of something.
• destruction (שֶׁבֶר, shever): This term means a breaking, shattering, ruin, disaster, or calamity. It implies complete collapse and devastation.

Words-group analysis

• "He loves transgression who loves strife": This phrase highlights a fundamental spiritual truth: a person who is habitually inclined towards contention and dispute reveals a heart that embraces sin and rebellion against God’s peaceful and ordered ways. Loving strife is not a mere personality trait but an indication of a deeper moral perversion and disregard for harmony, which ultimately manifests as spiritual transgression. It is a cause-and-effect relationship where a quarrelsome spirit exposes an underlying rebellious heart.
• "He who exalts his gate seeks destruction": This expression uses a powerful metaphor. "Exalting his gate" signifies an overt display of pride, power, and security, often with a desire for dominance or an overreliance on one's own strength and resources. Such self-exaltation, being rooted in arrogance, is ironically a self-destructive pursuit. The individual, by aiming so high in their own estimation or earthly pursuits without humility, is actively bringing about their own downfall or ruin. Their grand aspirations are not God-ordained honor but self-induced disaster.

Proverbs 17 19 Bonus section

The parallel structure of the proverb implicitly suggests a connection between the "transgression" resulting from loving strife and the "destruction" brought about by exalting one's gate. It highlights that both attitudes—an affinity for conflict and an elevated sense of self-importance—are antithetical to divine wisdom and the path of flourishing. The gate's symbolism extends beyond mere physical structure; it represents one's household, authority, influence, and security. Exalting it speaks to a deep-seated pride that believes it can achieve security and greatness apart from divine favor, ultimately a form of rebellion itself. The contrast here is not just with foolishness, but with humility, love, and peacemaking which are hallmarks of true wisdom and Godliness. The path to wisdom lies in choosing peace over strife and humility over haughty self-exaltation, embracing a love for righteousness instead of a love for transgression.

Proverbs 17 19 Commentary

Proverbs 17:19 delivers a profound dual warning, dissecting two interconnected manifestations of foolishness that lead to ruin. Firstly, it establishes a causal link between loving contention and loving sin. A heart that embraces constant disagreement and dispute is, by nature, a rebellious heart against God's order. Peacemaking is a divine attribute and a command; therefore, seeking strife is contrary to God's character and His will for human interaction. It's a fundamental insight into character: how one relates to others often mirrors one's relationship with God. Those who continually stir up trouble demonstrate an intrinsic alignment with chaos and wrongdoing rather than peace and righteousness.Secondly, the proverb speaks against the perils of pride, conveyed through the metaphor of "exalting one's gate." The city gate was the center of influence, power, and defense. To "exalt" it implied making it ostentatious, impenetrable, or demonstrating a boastful ambition for self-importance and earthly security. This excessive pride and self-sufficiency inevitably lead to ruin, as wisdom literature consistently teaches. Humility, not self-exaltation, is the path to true honor and lasting stability. The person who aggressively seeks worldly preeminence or self-glorification through outward display is actively working against their own well-being, paving the way for inevitable destruction because God resists the proud. This proverb calls for internal examination of our motives regarding conflict and our desire for recognition.