Proverbs 4:27 kjv
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:27 nkjv
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:27 niv
Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:27 esv
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Proverbs 4:27 nlt
Don't get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
Proverbs 4 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 5:32 | "You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." | Direct command to not deviate from God's law. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have success wherever you go." | Adherence to God's law brings prosperity. |
| Psa 1:6 | "For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly will perish." | Contrasts two paths: righteous and ungodly. |
| Psa 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's word guides the proper path. |
| Psa 119:133 | "Direct my steps by your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me." | Prayer for divinely guided conduct. |
| Prov 1:15 | "My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths," | Direct instruction to avoid wicked paths. |
| Prov 2:12 | "...to deliver you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech," | Protection from those who deviate from good. |
| Prov 4:18-19 | "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn... The way of the wicked is like deep darkness..." | Highlights contrast between two distinct paths. |
| Prov 5:8 | "Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house," | Specific command to remove oneself from danger. |
| Prov 6:12-14 | "A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with perverted mouth..." | Describes characteristics of those who deviate. |
| Isa 30:21 | "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right hand or when you turn to the left." | God's guidance prevents straying from the way. |
| Jer 6:16 | "Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls." | Calls for return to ancient, good paths. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." | Emphasizes the difficult but righteous path. |
| Luke 1:79 | "...to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." | Divine guidance into the way of peace. |
| Eph 5:15-16 | "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." | Exhortation to walk wisely amidst evil. |
| Heb 12:12-13 | "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." | Direct reference to straightness of path/feet. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" | Call to live a holy, righteous conduct. |
| 1 Thess 5:22 | "Abstain from every form of evil." | Clear command to avoid all forms of evil. |
| 2 Tim 2:16 | "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness," | Warning against words that cause deviation. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." | Transformation away from worldly patterns. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Emphasizes action in alignment with God's word. |
| 2 Pet 2:20-21 | "For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord... they are again entangled in them... For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn back..." | Consequences of turning from the way of righteousness. |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" | Jesus as the ultimate 'way' or path to follow. |
| Psa 37:23 | "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way." | God directs the steps of the righteous. |
Proverbs 4 verses
Proverbs 4 27 Meaning
Proverbs 4:27 instructs the hearer to maintain a steadfast and unwavering commitment to the path of wisdom and righteousness, never deviating from it in any direction. It emphasizes avoiding all forms of moral deviation, whether towards seemingly righteous but misleading paths or overt wickedness, and instead demands a disciplined, intentional withdrawal from anything associated with moral evil.
Proverbs 4 27 Context
Proverbs chapter 4 forms part of a series of exhortations from a father (representing Wisdom itself, or a wise teacher) to his son, urging him to pursue, cherish, and guard wisdom above all else. The overarching theme of the chapter is the path of life. The father recounts how he himself received instruction and now passes it on (Prov 4:3-5). He stresses wisdom's value, calling it "principal" (Prov 4:7), and illustrates the two contrasting paths: the radiant, progressive path of the righteous and the dark, stumbling path of the wicked (Prov 4:18-19). Verses 20-27 focus on the guarding of the heart, mind, eyes, mouth, and finally, the feet, as integral to maintaining one's alignment with wisdom. Proverbs 4:27 acts as a summary command, emphasizing total dedication to the righteous path and a complete rejection of deviation, aligning with the Deuteronomic covenant theology of following God's commands without straying.
Proverbs 4 27 Word analysis
- Turn (לֹא־תֵט - lo-tet): "Do not incline, do not turn aside." This strong negative command (לא - lo) forbids any leaning or straying. It suggests a subtle, incremental movement away from the straight path.
- Right hand (אֶל־יָמִין - el-yamin): Often symbolic of power, righteousness, prosperity, or correctness. In this context, it refers to any deviation towards a seemingly acceptable or even overly zealous path that is not in alignment with divine wisdom. It could imply attempting to go beyond or reinterpret God's prescribed way in human terms, or self-righteousness.
- Nor to the left (וְאֶל־שְׂמֹאול - ve'el-s'mol): Refers to deviation towards error, unrighteousness, misfortune, or overt wickedness. This encompasses any path clearly against God's instruction, including overt sin. The duality emphasizes that any departure from the straight path, regardless of its perceived nature or intention, is prohibited.
- Remove (הָסֵר - haser): An imperative verb meaning "to take away," "to put away," or "to draw back." It is an active command requiring deliberate action, indicating that remaining on the straight path isn't passive but requires effort.
- Thy foot (רַגְלְךָ - ragleka): "Your foot." Symbolically represents one's conduct, walk, life path, or course of action. It signifies concrete behavior and the trajectory of one's life.
- From evil (מֵרָע - me-ra): "From wickedness," "from harm," "from trouble." Refers to moral corruption, what is wrong or hurtful. It encompasses not just individual sinful acts but also the general trajectory towards unrighteousness and its consequences.
Words-group analysis:
- "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left": This phrase mandates undeviating adherence to the prescribed path of wisdom. It stresses precise obedience, ruling out both excessive self-devised righteous practices (right) and clear moral transgression (left). It signifies a steadfast commitment, not swerving even subtly.
- "Remove thy foot from evil": This command reinforces the proactive avoidance of any contact or movement towards that which is morally wrong or harmful. It demands a decisive withdrawal from wicked influences and behaviors, emphasizing that physical action (the foot) is subject to the will aligned with wisdom. It speaks to practical, disciplined steps in maintaining a morally pure walk.
Proverbs 4 27 Bonus section
The concept of "not turning to the right or left" is rooted deeply in the Torah, especially in commands related to observing the Law (e.g., Deut 5:32, Josh 1:7). This reinforces that the wisdom sought in Proverbs is not mere human philosophy but wisdom grounded in divine revelation and the covenant relationship. The imagery implies that the "straight" path is precisely the one God has already delineated, leaving no room for human modification or interpretation that deviates from its clear boundaries. Furthermore, the imperative "remove thy foot" suggests a responsive, even abrupt, withdrawal when temptation or potential compromise presents itself. It's not a slow drift away from evil, but a decisive cutting off. This emphasizes an active spiritual vigilance required to maintain the righteous walk, understanding that passive non-engagement with evil is insufficient; one must actively recoil from it. The holistic nature of wisdom impacting one's entire "walk" (life) is vividly portrayed by focusing on the 'foot', which dictates where one travels.
Proverbs 4 27 Commentary
Proverbs 4:27 provides a climactic summary to the father's counsel in the chapter, encapsulating the essence of a wise life: uncompromising, undeviating faithfulness to God's wisdom. The imagery of a "path" (common throughout Proverbs) is crucial here; life is a journey, and choices determine its direction. To "turn not to the right hand nor to the left" means absolute adherence to the divinely appointed way. It forbids both falling short of righteous requirements (often associated with the "left" due to ancient symbolic leanings towards dexterity/skill on the right, meaning "correctness"), and also from overstepping or taking self-willed detours, even if seemingly righteous (the "right"). It is a call for exactness in obedience and conduct, reflecting that God's path is sufficient and perfect. To "remove thy foot from evil" is the practical outworking of this undeviating posture. It is a forceful, active command to physically withdraw from all that is corrupting or brings moral harm, highlighting that true wisdom necessitates tangible steps away from sin. This verse emphasizes moral discipline, focus, and a daily, intentional guarding of one's actions and life trajectory to remain aligned with God's divine principles.
Examples for practical usage:
- A student is faced with pressure to cheat (left) or to engage in excessive, unbalanced study neglecting other duties (right); the verse teaches a balanced, truthful, diligent approach to study without veering.
- A believer navigating doctrinal discussions is urged not to swerve into legalism (right) or antinomianism (left), but to walk in truth and grace.
- In daily choices, discerning when an activity leads one too close to temptation (remove thy foot from evil) versus faithfully pursuing what is honorable (staying on the path).