Proverbs 28:4 kjv

They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

Proverbs 28:4 nkjv

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.

Proverbs 28:4 niv

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.

Proverbs 28:4 esv

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.

Proverbs 28:4 nlt

To reject the law is to praise the wicked;
to obey the law is to fight them.

Proverbs 28 verses

Proverbs 28 4 Meaning

Proverbs 28:4 delineates two contrasting groups of people based on their relationship with God's law or instruction: those who disregard it and those who observe it. It states that individuals who abandon God's divine teaching inherently commend, approve of, or even celebrate wicked people and their actions. Conversely, those who diligently uphold and obey God's law will actively oppose and contend with the wicked, standing against unrighteousness and corruption. The verse establishes a direct correlation between one's allegiance to God's revelation and their moral alignment towards good and evil in society.

Proverbs 28 4 Context

Proverbs 28 is part of a larger collection of Solomon's proverbs (Proverbs 25-29), which often contrast the righteous and the wicked, offering practical wisdom for ethical living, governance, and societal harmony. This chapter particularly emphasizes themes of justice, honesty, integrity in leadership, and the consequences of sin and righteousness within a community. Verse 4 stands as a clear statement of moral alignment: one's stance toward God's law directly dictates one's posture towards the wicked in society. It underscores the foundational importance of divine revelation (Torah) as the standard by which all human actions, including the praise or opposition of the wicked, are judged. Historically, adherence to the Torah defined the identity and faithfulness of ancient Israel, making this a central theme for the original audience, especially as they often struggled with influences from surrounding polytheistic and ethically permissive cultures. The proverb implicitly critiques any system or mindset that would normalize or tolerate unrighteousness, affirming God's standard as the ultimate measure of morality.

Proverbs 28 4 Word analysis

• Those who forsake the law: (Hebrew: עֹזְבֵי תוֹרָה, ‘ōzəḇê tōrâ)

  • עֹזְבֵי (‘ōzəḇê): From the verb עָזַב (‘āzaḇ), meaning to forsake, abandon, leave, neglect, or utterly desert. It implies a deliberate turning away, a neglect of responsibility, or a surrender of principles. This is more than ignorance; it's a conscious departure.
  • תּוֹרָה (tōrâ): Most often translated as "law," but its meaning is much broader, encompassing divine instruction, teaching, revelation, or guidance. It refers not merely to legal statutes but to God's entire revealed will and wisdom for how humanity should live and interact with Him and one another. It signifies the source of divine truth and morality.
  • Significance: Those who abandon God's comprehensive moral and spiritual guidance. Their moral compass becomes distorted because they have rejected its divine source. This sets them apart from the community grounded in God's revealed truth.

• praise the wicked: (Hebrew: יְהַלְלוּ רָשָׁע, yehalləlû rāšā‘)

  • יְהַלְלוּ (yehalləlû): From the verb הָלַל (hālāl), meaning to praise, commend, boast, or shine. It indicates giving approval, commendation, or honor. This is the root of "hallelujah" (praise Yah).
  • רָשָׁע (rāšā‘): Means wicked, unrighteous, or guilty. It describes one whose actions are contrary to God's standards and who often actively commits injustice or oppresses others.
  • Significance: To praise the wicked means to affirm their actions, support their agenda, excuse their wrongdoing, or even participate in their unrighteousness. This endorsement comes from a heart alienated from Torah. It reflects a spiritual and moral blindness, celebrating what God condemns. Such praise might stem from fear, self-interest, moral decay, or shared sin.

• but those who keep the law: (Hebrew: וְשֹׁמְרֵי תוֹרָה, wəšōmrê tōrâ)

  • וְשֹׁמְרֵי (wəšōmrê): From the verb שָׁמַר (šāmar), meaning to keep, guard, observe, watch, preserve. It implies careful adherence, diligent obedience, and a protective care for the instructions received.
  • תּוֹרָה (tōrâ): The same term for God's divine instruction, as above.
  • Significance: This group actively embraces, preserves, and lives by God's comprehensive instruction. Their keeping of the law is not mere intellectual assent but practical obedience that shapes their worldview and actions. They value God's truth as the ultimate guide for life.

• contend with them: (Hebrew: יִתְגָּרוּ בָם, yitgārû ḇām)

  • יִתְגָּרוּ (yitgārû): From the root גָּרָה (gārāh), meaning to strive, quarrel, contend, provoke to battle, incite, or wage war. It denotes active opposition, confrontation, and sometimes vigorous dispute. It's not passive disapproval but active engagement.
  • בָם (ḇām): "With them," referring to the wicked.
  • Significance: Those who cling to God's Torah cannot remain neutral in the face of wickedness. They are compelled by their convictions to challenge, expose, and resist evil, striving against its influence and effects in society. This active "contending" means speaking out, upholding justice, defending the oppressed, and living in a way that stands in stark contrast to the deeds of the wicked, implicitly challenging them.

• Word Groups Analysis:

  • "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked": This phrase describes moral degeneracy stemming from a rejection of divine standards. It highlights how spiritual abandonment leads to distorted values, where evil is not just tolerated but actively endorsed. This could be due to shared interests, complicity in unrighteous gains, or simply a lack of moral discernment due to forsaking God's truth.
  • "but those who keep the law contend with them": This phrase portrays the righteous as agents of moral confrontation. Their adherence to Torah empowers and obligates them to actively resist and challenge unrighteousness. This is a divine imperative to confront evil, reflecting God's own justice and righteousness, a call for God's people to be salt and light in the world.

Proverbs 28 4 Bonus Section

The Torah in Proverbs 28:4, while referencing the Mosaic Law, also encompasses the broader concept of divine wisdom and instruction for life found throughout the Scriptures. It represents the very nature and will of God for humanity. Therefore, "keeping the law" is not mere legalistic adherence but a heart posture of desiring to live in alignment with God's character and purposes. This means that a person's inner relationship with God dictates their external engagement with the moral fabric of society.

The "contend with them" (yitgārû ḇām) carries a strong sense of vigorous engagement. It's akin to the wrestling match between Jacob and the angel or a battle against an adversary. It suggests that confronting wickedness requires courage, resolve, and sometimes a fight. This highlights that standing for righteousness often comes at a cost and requires active effort, rather than passive observation. The absence of contention from those who claim to keep the law signals a weakening of their adherence to it.

Proverbs 28 4 Commentary

Proverbs 28:4 is a powerful declaration distinguishing character and conduct based on one's relationship with God's Word. The verse suggests that an individual's view and treatment of evil are direct manifestations of their spiritual orientation. To "forsake the law" is not a mere intellectual disagreement, but a wilful abandonment of God's revealed truth, which inevitably leads to a corrupted moral framework. In this state, the boundaries between right and wrong blur, leading to the unthinkable: praising, affirming, or excusing the wicked. Such a disposition reflects a profound moral decay and can stem from convenience, fear, complicity in sin, or a deep spiritual blindness.

Conversely, "those who keep the law" demonstrate active and intentional obedience to God's instructions. This commitment sharpens their moral vision, making them sensitive to injustice and evil. Their adherence to Torah equips them, morally and spiritually, to "contend with" the wicked. This is not passive disapproval but an active engagement, a willingness to confront unrighteousness, expose darkness, and champion righteousness. This might involve speaking truth, seeking justice, standing for the oppressed, or living a life that serves as a rebuke to the ways of the world. The proverb implicitly asserts that true wisdom involves not only knowing God's law but applying it by opposing wickedness, demonstrating a firm moral stance derived from divine revelation. This wisdom guides God's people to live as a counter-culture in a world prone to celebrate or ignore evil.

• Examples:
  • Praising the wicked: Leaders who turn a blind eye to corruption or even reward it for personal gain. A community that celebrates ill-gotten wealth or respects powerful, yet morally bankrupt, individuals. People who excuse injustice "for the sake of peace" or social acceptance.
  • Contending with the wicked: Prophets speaking against kings (e.g., Nathan to David). Believers exposing spiritual darkness (e.g., early church against idolatry). Individuals standing for truth and justice in the face of opposition.