Proverbs 5:14 kjv

I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

Proverbs 5:14 nkjv

I was on the verge of total ruin, In the midst of the assembly and congregation."

Proverbs 5:14 niv

And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God's people."

Proverbs 5:14 esv

I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation."

Proverbs 5:14 nlt

I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
and now I must face public disgrace."

Proverbs 5 verses

Proverbs 5 14 Meaning

Proverbs 5:14 is a confession of deep regret and the dire consequences faced due to one's folly, specifically in succumbing to the temptations described earlier in the chapter. It declares that the individual was on the brink of total destruction, suffering "every kind of evil" or "utter ruin," and that this potential downfall or a sense of profound disgrace was in the public eye, "in the midst of the assembly and congregation." This verse serves as a powerful warning about the devastating spiritual, social, and physical repercussions of abandoning wisdom and engaging in sexual immorality.

Proverbs 5 14 Context

Proverbs 5 is a father's urgent plea and profound warning to his son concerning the destructive path of sexual immorality, particularly with the "strange woman" or adulteress. The chapter describes her alluring but deceptive ways (vv. 3-6) and the terrible consequences of yielding to her (vv. 7-14). These consequences include the loss of honor, strength, wealth, and health (vv. 8-11), culminating in bitter regret (vv. 12-13). Verse 14 is presented either as the lament of one who has just barely escaped utter ruin, or as a direct admonition by the wise teacher who empathetically embodies the ultimate despair of falling into such sin. It vividly paints the picture of total collapse, not merely in secret, but exposed before the very community that upholds moral order and justice. The historical context reflects a society where reputation and standing within the community were paramount, and public disgrace was a severe punishment, often alongside or preceding legal and physical consequences. This societal framework emphasized the importance of wise living not just for individual well-being but also for communal harmony.

Proverbs 5 14 Word analysis

• I was almost (כִּמְעַט, kimʿaṭ): This Hebrew adverb signifies "scarcely," "nearly," "almost," or "in a little while." Its inclusion emphasizes the close proximity to absolute catastrophe. It suggests that while ruin was imminent and encompassing, it perhaps did not fully actualize to its absolute worst, perhaps by God's grace, or the speaker is speaking prophetically, having seen the ruin of others or experienced its shadow. The narrow escape accentuates the perilous nature of the sin. It also conveys the idea of a fleeting moment that seals one's fate, highlighting the swift descent into ruin once one steps onto the wrong path.

• in utter ruin (בְּכָל־רָע, bĕkōl-rāʿ): This phrase literally translates to "in all evil" or "in every kind of evil." The Hebrew term רָע (raʿ) is broad and refers to something bad, evil, harm, or calamity. The preposition בְּ (be) means "in," and כֹּל (kol) means "all" or "every." This indicates not just one kind of harm, but comprehensive, pervasive ruin impacting all aspects of life – spiritual, physical, financial, and social. It's a statement of complete and inescapable disaster, implying a state of utter destitution and misery, a living hell as a consequence of sin. It can be seen as the sum total of all the bitter fruits described earlier in the chapter, like losing health, wealth, and life itself.

• in the midst of (בְּתוֹךְ, bĕtôkh): This preposition means "in the middle of," "within," or "among." It highlights the public nature of the ruin. The consequence of folly is not private; it occurs within the very heart of the community, where one's standing and honor are evaluated.

• the assembly (קָהָל, qāhāl): This Hebrew term refers to a "congregation," "assembly," or "company." It signifies a formal gathering, often of a religious or judicial nature, implying a public space where communal judgment is rendered, or where people come together for significant collective action or worship. This isn't just a crowd, but an organized group.

• and congregation (וְעֵדָה, wĕʿēdâ): This term also denotes an "assembly," "congregation," or "community." In the Old Testament, ʿēdâ often specifically refers to the community of Israel, particularly as an organized body or legal assembly. Paired with qāhāl, it intensifies the idea of a comprehensive, public exposure of one's downfall. The dual terms underscore the absolute public nature of the disgrace, where there is no place to hide from the shame or the legal and social repercussions. The presence of the qāhāl and ʿēdâ means the sin and its outcome are exposed to all who represent God's covenant community and its moral order.

Proverbs 5 14 Bonus section

The "I" in "I was almost" is debated by scholars. It can be interpreted in several ways:

1. Pedagogical Device: The father or wise teacher uses "I" to empathetically place himself in the shoes of someone experiencing such regret, making the warning more vivid and personal for the son. It’s a rhetorical strategy to highlight the universal nature of the temptation and the tragic outcome.
2. Lament of Experience: It could be a genuine lament from someone who nearly succumbed to such sin in their past, reflecting on their close call with destruction and now warning others from that experience.
3. Humanity's Universal Frailty: The "I" represents every individual's susceptibility to temptation and the universal consequences of yielding to sin, a form of confession that transcends individual identity to become a broader human truth.

The use of both "assembly" (qāhāl) and "congregation" (ʿēdâ) creates a strong emphasis through a Hebrew literary device known as hendiadys, where two words are used to express a single, intensified concept—here, the complete and inescapable public nature of the ruin before the entire covenant community, often associated with legal and judicial pronouncements. It underscores that one's accountability is not merely to God but also to the visible body of believers.

Proverbs 5 14 Commentary

Proverbs 5:14 articulates the horrific, near-total consequences of embracing sexual immorality and rejecting wise counsel. It paints a picture of comprehensive ruin, touching every aspect of one's being and experience. The "utter ruin" signifies a downfall far beyond a single unfortunate event; it is a holistic collapse—spiritual degradation, physical decay, financial loss, and severe emotional anguish. The critical element is that this ruin, or the recognition of its imminence, occurs "in the midst of the assembly and congregation." This implies profound public disgrace and shame, possibly legal and communal judgment, where the individual is stripped of honor and standing before the very people whose respect and trust were once foundational. This serves as a stark warning: while sin may be committed in secret, its ultimate consequences, especially severe sexual sins, inevitably expose the sinner to public humiliation and the loss of social regard within the God-fearing community. It stresses that folly not only destroys the individual but also dishonors the community they belong to, manifesting the principle that sin, while seemingly personal, has public ramifications.