Proverbs 29:1 kjv
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29:1 nkjv
He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29:1 niv
Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed?without remedy.
Proverbs 29:1 esv
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
Proverbs 29:1 nlt
Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism
will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.
Proverbs 29 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:24-27 | "Because I have called and you refused… I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes like a storm..." | Rejection of wisdom leads to inevitable calamity. |
| Prov 1:32 | "For the turning away of the simple will kill them..." | The self-destructive path of folly. |
| Prov 6:15 | "Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy." | Similar phrasing on sudden, irreparable judgment. |
| Prov 12:1 | "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is brutish." | Contrast: Acceptance of instruction vs. rejection. |
| Prov 15:10 | "Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates correction will die." | Disliking correction leads to death/destruction. |
| Prov 15:32 | "He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding." | Despising reproof harms oneself. |
| Prov 28:18 | "Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, but one who is perverse in his ways will fall into the pit at once." | Swift fall for crooked ways. |
| Exod 32:9 | "And the LORD said to Moses: 'I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!'" | Illustrates "hardened neck" as stubbornness to God. |
| Deut 9:6 | "Know therefore that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land... because you are a stiff-necked people." | Stubbornness as a hindrance to blessing. |
| Neh 9:16-17 | "...but they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and did not heed Your commandments." | Historical example of spiritual obstinacy. |
| Psa 50:17 | "Seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you." | A heart that rejects God's teaching. |
| Psa 78:8 | "And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation..." | Warning against generational spiritual stubbornness. |
| Isa 5:24 | "Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness..." | Consequences of despising the law and words of God. |
| Jer 7:26 | "Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck." | Repeated rejection of God's prophets and words. |
| Jer 17:23 | "But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear..." | Further example of obstinate disobedience. |
| Jer 19:15 | "...because they have stiffened their necks, that they might not hear My words." | Refusal to listen to divine warning. |
| 2 Chr 36:16 | "But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy." | No remedy after long-term rejection of warnings. |
| Zec 7:11-12 | "But they refused to pay attention... and made their hearts like flint, lest they hear the law..." | Hearts hardened against divine instruction. |
| Matt 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I wanted to gather your children together... but you were not willing!" | Christ's sorrow over Jerusalem's obstinacy. |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit..." | Stephen's rebuke: Resistance to the Spirit. |
| Rom 2:4-5 | "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering... but in accordance with your hardness and impenitent heart are treasuring up for yourself wrath..." | Hardness of heart stores up wrath. |
| Heb 3:12-13 | "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." | Warning against hardened hearts in New Covenant. |
| Heb 10:26-27 | "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment..." | Wilful sin after knowing truth brings judgment. |
| 1 Thes 5:3 | "For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." | Sudden, unavoidable destruction for the complacent. |
Proverbs 29 verses
Proverbs 29 1 Meaning
Proverbs 29:1 describes the dire consequence of persistent rejection of correction. It warns that an individual who is repeatedly given reproof but obstinately refuses to change their ways will face sudden and irreparable destruction, indicating that their ruin will come unexpectedly and without any hope of recovery or escape.
Proverbs 29 1 Context
Proverbs 29:1 is situated within a collection of proverbs primarily attributed to King Solomon, often presented as binary contrasts illustrating the outcomes of wisdom versus folly, and righteousness versus wickedness. Chapter 29 specifically focuses on themes of justice, leadership, and personal conduct, emphasizing the impact of these on society and the individual. This particular verse serves as a stark warning, encapsulating the cumulative danger of repeatedly spurning guidance and wisdom. It highlights a critical truth within the wisdom literature: prolonged defiance against benevolent instruction reaches a point of irreversible consequence. Historically and culturally, the "stiff-necked" imagery vividly conveyed stubborn rebellion against authority, whether human or divine, reflecting Israel's own struggles with obedience throughout their history.
Proverbs 29 1 Word analysis
He, that being often reproved:
- He, that: Identifies an individual as the subject, setting the stage for a cause-and-effect statement about their character.
- often reproved: The Hebrew is אישׁ תוכחות (ish tokhaḥot), literally "a man of reproofs" or "a man of many corrections." This is not just one or two instances but a continuous pattern; the person has been given abundant opportunities to heed instruction and turn from their harmful path. The "reproofs" (tokhaḥot) are understood as constructive rebukes, corrections, and admonitions aimed at guiding someone towards wisdom and righteousness.
hardeneth his neck:
- hardeneth his neck: The Hebrew phrase is מַקְשֶׁה־עֹרֶף (maqsheh-ʿoreph). This is a vivid idiom derived from agriculture: a stubborn ox or beast of burden that refuses to bend its neck to the yoke, resisting control and guidance. Spiritually, it signifies obstinacy, defiance, recalcitrant rebellion, and an unyielding refusal to submit to authority or counsel, particularly against the clear direction of wisdom or God's will. It points to a deliberate decision to remain stubborn despite clear warnings.
shall suddenly be destroyed:
- suddenly: The Hebrew word פֶּתַע (petaʿ) conveys immediacy and unexpectedness, meaning "abruptly," "in an instant," or "without warning." This emphasizes that the judgment is swift and takes the unyielding person by surprise, giving no time for a final change of heart or evasion.
- be destroyed: The Hebrew יִשָּׁבֵר (yishshaver) from the verb shavar, means "to be broken," "to be shattered," or "to be ruined." It signifies a complete collapse or ruin, not necessarily physical death alone but often an irreversible spiritual or existential undoing.
and that without remedy:
- without remedy: The Hebrew phrase וְאֵין מַרְפֵּא (v'ein marpe) literally means "and there is no healing/cure/restoration." This signifies finality and irreversibility. The destruction is not just sudden but also conclusive; there is no possibility of recovery, escape, or mitigation from this ultimate consequence. It indicates a point of no return for persistent rebellion.
Words-group analysis:
- "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck": This phrase meticulously builds the picture of someone who has exhausted divine or wise patience. The problem isn't a single error, but a sustained pattern of unresponsiveness and deliberate hardening against abundant counsel. It highlights the internal choice of defiance over submission to truth.
- "shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy": This outcome underscores the severity of God's justice or the inevitable consequences of persistent folly. The swiftness and finality contrast sharply with the preceding long-suffering provision of "often reproved." It's a statement that grace, though extended, eventually meets an unyielding boundary.
Proverbs 29 1 Bonus section
This proverb illustrates the principle of sowing and reaping on a spiritual level: consistent rejection of correction sows seeds of destruction. It implicitly teaches about God's patient nature—evidenced by the "often reproved" aspect—yet also His just nature, which ensures that willful defiance ultimately brings consequences. The warning extends beyond overt acts of rebellion; it applies to a stubborn disposition of the heart that refuses humility and growth through wisdom. It is a boundary statement, indicating that while God offers numerous chances for correction, there is a finality when His long-suffering grace is persistently abused. For the individual, the lesson is clear: cultivate a receptive spirit to reproof, as openness to correction is essential for true wisdom and avoids devastating ruin.
Proverbs 29 1 Commentary
Proverbs 29:1 stands as a stark warning, highlighting the critical moment when prolonged, stubborn resistance to correction leads to a final, irreversible consequence. Wisdom, often personified in Proverbs, repeatedly extends opportunities for change and repentance through "reproofs," which are meant for the recipient's benefit, guiding them away from destructive paths. However, when an individual chooses to harden their neck—a vivid image of willful, defiant refusal to submit to truth or wise counsel—they seal their own fate. This defiance exhausts the patience, whether human or divine, that provided the continuous reproof. The resulting destruction is depicted as sudden and without remedy, emphasizing that at a certain point, a line is crossed, and there is no longer any means of escape or reversal. This speaks to the cumulative effect of spiritual callousness; repeated rejection of light leads to an escalating blindness that ultimately brings unexpected and total ruin, where past opportunities for healing are no longer available.