Proverbs 27:8 kjv

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Proverbs 27:8 nkjv

Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.

Proverbs 27:8 niv

Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.

Proverbs 27:8 esv

Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.

Proverbs 27:8 nlt

A person who strays from home
is like a bird that strays from its nest.

Proverbs 27 verses

Proverbs 27 8 Meaning

Proverbs 27:8 declares that a person who forsakes their established dwelling place becomes as vulnerable and disoriented as a bird that abandons its nest. It emphasizes the profound value of stability, rootedness, and belonging, contrasting it with the perils of aimless wandering or self-imposed rootlessness, which leads to insecurity and loss of proper context and provision. The verse implicitly encourages contentment, commitment, and finding one's secure place.

Proverbs 27 8 Context

Proverbs 27 is a collection of diverse, self-contained proverbs focusing on practical wisdom related to various aspects of life, including friendship, diligence, self-control, and the importance of wise living. Verse 8 fits within the larger theme of stable character and beneficial circumstances. In ancient Israelite society, "home" (Hebrew: bayit) was the foundational unit of identity, security, economic activity, and social belonging. To abandon one's home meant not just leaving a physical structure but severing ties to family, community, livelihood, and protection, making one highly vulnerable and without a clear purpose or identity. The verse highlights this crucial understanding by using the familiar and universally understood image of a bird's nest as its place of safety and provision.

Proverbs 27 8 Word analysis

• Like a bird (Hebrew: K'tzippor, כְּצִפּוֹר): Tzippor refers to any small bird, often symbolizing commonness, but also fragility and instinctual behavior. The comparison evokes an immediate sense of smallness, natural vulnerability, and reliance on its immediate environment for survival.
• that wanders (Hebrew: Nodeda, נוֹדֵדָה): Derived from the root nadad (נוד), meaning to move, wander, flee, or mourn. Here, it implies an unfixed, unsettled, and often aimless movement. It's not purposeful migration but an unsettling departure, a state of being lost or without direction.
• from its nest (Hebrew: Miqqinnāh, מִקִּנָּהּ): Qen means nest, referring to a place of rest, security, and the raising of young. It symbolizes origin, protection, provision, and belonging. To wander from it signifies a self-imposed loss of security and a break from the source of life and sustenance.
• so is a man (Hebrew: Kēn ʾīsh, כֵּן־אִישׁ): This phrase draws a direct, unequivocal parallel, stating that what is true for the bird is equally true for a human. Ish means "man" or "person," making the proverb broadly applicable to any individual.
• who strays (Hebrew: Nodēd, נוֹדֵד): The same root nadad is used again, reinforcing the idea of a voluntary but misguided or ill-advised departure from one's rightful or proper location. It emphasizes an absence of a clear destination or legitimate purpose for the movement, distinguishing it from necessary travel or divinely commanded relocation.
• from his home (Hebrew: Mimqōmōw, מִמְּקוֹמוֹ): Maqom literally means "place," but in context of home, it refers to one's established, appropriate, and secure dwelling or position. It implies not just a physical house, but a sphere of influence, identity, relationships, and responsibilities that provide security and context to life.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Like a bird that wanders from its nest": This phrase paints a vivid picture of extreme vulnerability and loss of function. A nest is where a bird is safe from predators and weather, finds sustenance, and raises its offspring. A bird aimlessly away from it is in peril, disconnected from its purpose and survival needs.
• "so is a man who strays from his home": This directly translates the natural illustration into a profound moral and social principle. It warns that abandoning one's rooted place—whether physical residence, family connections, community ties, or a settled purpose in life—leads to a state of insecurity, disorientation, and vulnerability comparable to a lost, exposed bird. It speaks to the dangers of rootlessness, whether from restlessness, dissatisfaction, or a rejection of responsibility and belonging.

Proverbs 27 8 Bonus section

The proverb’s emphasis on a “man’s home” (maqom) implicitly points to the Israelite understanding of the importance of dwelling in the land God provided (Dt 12:10). While biblical figures like Abraham left home at God's command (Gen 12:1), this was purposeful and divinely guided, contrasting sharply with the aimless "wandering" warned against in Proverbs 27:8. The latter is born of human discontent or lack of discipline, leading to a loss of the very peace and security a God-ordained dwelling provides. The New Testament echo is profound in the call to "abide" (Jn 15:4) in Christ, seeing Him as the ultimate spiritual home and source of stability and fruitfulness, and not to be "tossed to and fro" (Eph 4:14) by doctrines or worldly currents, thus encouraging spiritual rootedness akin to the physical stability advocated here.

Proverbs 27 8 Commentary

Proverbs 27:8 conveys a profound truth through a simple yet potent analogy. The bird's nest represents a place of safety, provision, and purpose—a secure base. When a bird strays from it without intention or destination, it forfeits its security, becoming exposed to dangers, unable to find food, and lacking shelter for rest or raising its young. In parallel, a person who restlessly or impulsively abandons their home, established position, community, or core values—their personal "nest"—invites significant peril and instability.

This proverb champions stability over aimless wandering, rootedness over rootlessness. It speaks to the importance of commitment and appreciating the security and blessing found in one's proper sphere. It is not a condemnation of necessary travel or seeking new opportunities, but a caution against an ungrounded spirit, one that is discontented with its lot or unwilling to put down roots and fulfill its responsibilities in its current circumstances. Such a person becomes susceptible to physical, social, emotional, and even spiritual dangers, much like the bird exposed to predators and elements outside its protective nest. The "home" here can represent not only a physical dwelling but also a spiritual or communal belonging, a sense of place in God's will, or within the fellowship of believers, highlighting the wisdom of remaining steadfast in one's divine calling and relationships.

Examples might include:

• Someone constantly changing jobs or locations due to dissatisfaction, never finding stable employment or a sense of community.
• An individual who severs ties with supportive family or friends without reason, isolating themselves and becoming vulnerable to loneliness or exploitation.
• A believer who habitually drifts between churches or spiritual groups, never committing to a fellowship and thus missing out on the mutual edification and accountability.