Proverbs 24:31 kjv

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Proverbs 24:31 nkjv

And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.

Proverbs 24:31 niv

thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.

Proverbs 24:31 esv

and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Proverbs 24:31 nlt

I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
It was covered with weeds,
and its walls were broken down.

Proverbs 24 verses

Proverbs 24 31 Meaning

This verse presents a vivid, observed scene: a neglected field completely overrun by invasive plants like thorns and nettles, with its protective stone wall in ruins. It is a striking visual metaphor for the inevitable consequences of idleness and lack of diligence in any area of life, leading to decay, vulnerability, and desolation.

Proverbs 24 31 Context

Proverbs 24:31 is part of a self-contained vignette (Proverbs 24:30-34) that describes the observation of a sluggard's (lazy person's) field and the resulting lesson. This section fits within a larger collection of wise sayings, often presented as a teacher-disciple interaction, aimed at instilling wisdom and avoiding folly. The preceding verse (24:30) introduces the sluggard and the field. Verse 31 then offers a detailed, vivid description of the dilapidated state of the field, preparing for the interpretation and warning in verses 32-34.

Agriculturally-based imagery was deeply understood by the ancient Israelite audience. Land was their primary means of sustenance, wealth, and inheritance. A field that could not produce was a direct threat to survival and an indication of profound neglect. Stone walls were vital, not merely decorative. They served to mark boundaries, keep livestock contained, and protect against wild animals, erosion, and human intruders. A broken wall signified a loss of security, order, and diligent stewardship. The absence of cultivated crops and the proliferation of weeds indicated a complete abandonment of responsibility. This cultural context would immediately highlight the dire consequences depicted. The passage implicitly polemicizes against any notion of arbitrary misfortune; instead, it underscores that desolation is a direct and predictable outcome of inaction, not fate or divine caprice, but human responsibility.

Proverbs 24 31 Word analysis

• "Behold" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An emphatic interjection meaning "Look!", "Pay attention!", "Indeed!". It commands immediate notice and suggests a striking or revealing observation that will lead to a deeper insight. It highlights the gravity and tangibility of what is being presented.
• "it was all grown over" (Hebrew: עָלָה כֻלֹּו, 'ālāh kullo):
  • ’ālāh: "to go up," "to ascend," "to grow." Here, it vividly describes the upward surge of vegetative growth.
  • kullo: "all of it," "the whole of it." Emphasizes the complete, pervasive, and overwhelming nature of the overgrowth. The field is not just weedy, it is completely dominated.
• "with thorns" (Hebrew: קִמֹּשׂוֹנִים, qimmoshonim): Prickly, spiny weeds. In the Bible, thorns frequently symbolize difficulty, pain, consequences of sin (Gen 3:18), and things that hinder or choke out good produce. They are sharp, painful, and impede access.
• "nettles" (Hebrew: חֲרוּלִים, charulim): Prickly, stinging weeds. Like thorns, nettles indicate desolate, uncared-for land. They add another layer of painful, irritating, and undesirable vegetation, making the ground unapproachable and utterly unproductive.
• "had covered its surface" (Hebrew: כִּסּוּ פָנָיו, kisû pānāw): "Covered its face." Kisû (covered) signifies a thorough blanketing, implying that the weeds are so dense nothing else can be seen. Pānāw (its face/surface) underscores the visibility and the aesthetic deterioration of the land, rendering it unusable and desolate.
• "and its stone wall" (Hebrew: וְגֶדֶר אֲבָנָיו, v'geder avanāw):
  • geder: "wall," "hedge," typically of stone, indicating a constructed barrier. A wall represents protection, order, established boundaries, and diligent past effort. It's a key feature of well-maintained land.
  • avanāw: "of its stones." Emphasizes the material of construction, implying solidity that would resist collapse if maintained.
• "was broken down" (Hebrew: נֶהֱרָסָה, nehe̱rāsah): "Was demolished," "torn down," "destroyed." This is in the passive voice, suggesting a decay due to lack of repair rather than an intentional act of destruction. It signifies loss of security, order, and protection, making the land vulnerable to intrusion and further decay.

Words-group analysis:

• "it was all grown over with thorns; nettles had covered its surface": This combined imagery portrays the internal decay and uselessness of the field. The thorns indicate painful obstacles and lack of cultivation, while nettles highlight the complete and irritating domination of the weeds. The doubling of weeds emphasizes the pervasive and overwhelming nature of the neglect, signifying how problems, when left unaddressed, completely consume a life or endeavor.
• "and its stone wall was broken down": This phrase depicts the external vulnerability and loss of established structure. The stone wall, once a symbol of order and protection, is now in ruins due to neglect. This signifies the collapse of boundaries, security, and integrity, making what was once protected now exposed to further harm, whether from within or without. It shows that passive inaction eventually leads to active breakdown.

Proverbs 24 31 Bonus section

The image presented is profoundly experiential; the "teacher" invites the observer (the reader) to visually and empathetically connect with the desolate scene before drawing the crucial lesson (in Prov 24:32-34). The description in verse 31 is deliberately precise and evocative, emphasizing the visual evidence of sloth. The decay isn't abstract; it's a field one can see, perhaps even trip over the thorns in or see an open breach in the wall. This concreteness makes the moral lesson all the more impactful.

Furthermore, this passage powerfully conveys that the natural tendency of things, without purposeful effort, is towards disorder and decay (entropy). Order, productivity, and safety require continuous, deliberate application of wisdom and diligence. It illustrates the 'sin of omission' – it is not something evil actively done, but something good actively not done, which brings about negative, painful, and dangerous consequences.

Proverbs 24 31 Commentary

Proverbs 24:31 serves as a stark visual aid for the principle taught in the surrounding verses: neglect, particularly the inaction characteristic of a "sluggard," inevitably leads to desolation and ruin. The dilapidated field, teeming with thorny weeds and lacking a protective wall, is not the result of a sudden catastrophe but a slow, persistent failure to apply diligence. The thorns and nettles symbolize the problems, obstacles, and difficulties that naturally proliferate when good work is absent. Just as a garden neglected quickly reverts to wilderness, so too does a life, a project, finances, or relationships devolve into chaos when discipline and maintenance are lacking. The broken wall highlights the loss of order, boundaries, and protection—the very things established through wise effort that shield from harm. The message is clear: diligence is not merely productive, it is preventative. Lack of action doesn't create a void; it creates an environment where destructive forces thrive. This visual lesson warns against complacency, reminding us that merely existing is not enough; active stewardship is required to maintain integrity and prevent decay.

• Example 1: A student neglecting daily studies finds assignments accumulating like thorns and knowledge gaps like nettles, leading to a breakdown in academic standing (broken wall).
• Example 2: An individual neglecting their finances will find debts and financial instability "growing over" their life, and their ability to save or plan for the future (the financial wall) collapsing.
• Example 3: Someone neglecting spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, fellowship) may find their "spiritual field" overgrown with sin and worldly anxieties (thorns and nettles), while their "protective wall" of faith and discernment against temptation weakens.