Proverbs 26:27 kjv

Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

Proverbs 26:27 nkjv

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

Proverbs 26:27 niv

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

Proverbs 26:27 esv

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

Proverbs 26:27 nlt

If you set a trap for others,
you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
it will crush you instead.

Proverbs 26 verses

Proverbs 26 27 Meaning

Proverbs 26:27 encapsulates the principle of consequential justice or divine retribution. It states that malicious actions, specifically those intended to ensnare or harm others, ultimately rebound upon the perpetrator. The one who plots downfall for another will experience their own undoing by the very means they employed. It underscores that wickedness is inherently self-destructive and that the moral order established by God ensures that evil deeds bring their own punishment.

Proverbs 26 27 Context

Proverbs 26 falls within the collection of "the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied" (Prov 25:1). This chapter focuses largely on contrasting fools, sluggards, and mischievous individuals with wise and diligent conduct. Proverbs 26:27 serves as a culminating warning about the self-defeating nature of deceit and malice, a theme reinforced by preceding verses about deceitful lips, feigned kindness (vv. 23-26), and a final proverb (v. 28) linking lying lips to hatred and flattery to ruin. The immediate verses (vv. 23-26) discuss a person who masks hatred with smooth words, and warns that such hidden evil will be exposed, leading to ruin. This context amplifies the message that no scheme of malice, however subtly hidden, will ultimately succeed against its perpetrator.

Historically and culturally, pits were common traps, used for hunting wild animals or defensively against enemies. Rolling stones was a heavy physical task, often associated with agricultural work (clearing fields) or constructing defenses, but in this context implies initiating a heavy, potentially dangerous, act. The imagery is drawn from everyday life in ancient Israel, making the proverb’s message immediately relatable and impactful for its original audience.

Proverbs 26 27 Word analysis

• Whoever digs (חֹפֵר - ḥōp̄ēr): This is a participle, emphasizing the ongoing action of digging. It signifies an intentional and active effort to create a snare. The imagery suggests careful planning and effort invested in malevolent schemes.
• a pit (שַׁחַת - šaḥat): This Hebrew term can mean a pit, well, cistern, or grave, and metaphorically, destruction or corruption. Here, it denotes a trap, often covered to conceal its danger. The intent is to cause someone to fall or be ensnared, leading to harm or death.
• will fall into it (יִפֹּל־בָּהּ - yippōl-bāh): This future tense verb indicates the certain outcome. The preposition "bāh" (into it) directly connects the action of digging the pit to the consequence of falling into that very pit. This highlights the irony and poetic justice.
• and he who rolls (וְגוֹלֵל - wəgōlēl): Similar to "digs," this is a participle, indicating ongoing action. "Rolling" often refers to moving large, heavy objects like stones, possibly for destructive purposes, such as an avalanche or barrier. It implies an effort to set a dangerous course of events in motion.
• a stone (אֶבֶן - ’even): A common, heavy object, signifying something substantial and potentially harmful. In this context, it suggests an attempt to harm or obstruct another person. The specific image might relate to dislodging a stone on a hillside to cause a landslide, or perhaps sealing someone in.
• will have it roll back on him (תָּשׁוּב עָלָיו - tāšûḇ ‘ālāyw): Tāšûḇ means "it will return" or "revert," emphasizing the boomerang effect. The preposition ‘ālāyw (upon him/against him) denotes the reversal of the intended harm, directly affecting the originator. This highlights that the destructive force intended for another is precisely what afflicts the perpetrator.

• "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it": This phrase paints a vivid picture of a self-made trap. The energy and resources expended to harm another result in the downfall of the plotter. It is an image of complete irony and self-inflicted ruin, where the agent becomes the victim of their own machination. This often relates to plots, slanders, or schemes against others.
• "and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him": This second, parallel phrase reinforces the first with different imagery but the same principle. A person setting a heavy, dangerous object in motion for harm finds that very force redirected against themselves. It speaks to initiating violence, damage, or misfortune that cycles back to its source.

Proverbs 26 27 Bonus section

This proverb, along with many others in wisdom literature, speaks to a deeply embedded concept of cosmic justice, where the consequences of one's actions are not merely random but are intrinsically linked to the actions themselves by divine ordination. It implicitly suggests that God is not absent or indifferent to human deeds but has woven into the fabric of creation a principle of recompense. This principle operates regardless of human recognition, serving as a testament to God's ultimate sovereignty and righteousness. It forms part of the "fear of the Lord" teaching, which includes understanding and acknowledging this predictable moral structure of the world. While not negating human responsibility, it highlights the dependable nature of divine judgment, which is often immediate and naturalistic, flowing from the act itself. This proverb also stands in quiet polemic against any belief system that suggests one can escape the consequences of malicious actions or that might makes right; it declares that true power lies in aligning with divine order, and that those who defy it become entrapped by their own rebellion.

Proverbs 26 27 Commentary

Proverbs 26:27 is a timeless expression of divine justice and the inherent self-destructive nature of malice. It is a profound declaration that God’s moral order ensures that ill intent and wicked schemes rebound upon their instigators. The two parallel proverbial images—digging a pit and rolling a stone—are highly evocative, demonstrating that the very instruments and methods prepared to ensnare or harm others become the cause of the plotter’s own undoing. This verse warns against the futility and ultimate danger of planning evil, serving as a deterrent and a comforting assurance for the righteous. It emphasizes that while the wicked may for a time appear to succeed in their designs, the established moral order of the universe, maintained by God, guarantees that their own mischief will ultimately be their ruin. This truth is foundational to wisdom literature, underscoring that the way of the wicked is ultimately folly, leading to their own downfall.

• Example 1: A person consistently spreading false rumors to destroy another's reputation may find their own credibility severely damaged when the truth is revealed, becoming ostracized themselves.
• Example 2: An individual who tries to frame someone for a crime might inadvertently leave evidence that incriminates themselves, leading to their own arrest.