Proverbs 5:22 kjv

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Proverbs 5:22 nkjv

His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.

Proverbs 5:22 niv

The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.

Proverbs 5:22 esv

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

Proverbs 5:22 nlt

An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.

Proverbs 5 verses

Proverbs 5 22 Meaning

Proverbs 5:22 reveals a fundamental principle of divine justice and moral consequence: an individual's own wrongdoings are the very instruments of their downfall. The verse depicts the wicked person caught and bound, not primarily by external forces, but by their self-chosen path of sin. Their "iniquities" become a snare, and their "sin" functions as inescapable cords, leading to a state of irreversible entanglement and loss of freedom. It emphasizes the inherent, self-inflicting nature of sin's retribution, where the actions themselves carry their own severe and binding penalty.

Proverbs 5 22 Context

Proverbs chapter 5 is a poignant warning from a father to his son against the perils of sexual immorality, specifically against the "forbidden woman" or "adulteress." The chapter begins by urging attention to wisdom's counsel to preserve understanding (v. 1-2), then immediately describes the deceptive allure and ultimate bitterness of illicit relations (v. 3-6). The father lists the devastating consequences for the man who falls prey: loss of honor, wealth, health, and a life of regret (v. 7-14). In stark contrast, he exhorts the son to fidelity to his own wife (v. 15-20). The verse, Proverbs 5:22, then serves as a culminating principle: the man (or any wicked person) is not just punished externally, but trapped by the very nature of his choices, highlighting God's omnipresence (v. 21) as a prelude to the self-destructive end (v. 23). The historical and cultural context underscores wisdom as the proper navigation of life's path, and folly (manifested intensely in sexual sin) as deviation from the divine order, leading inherently to one's undoing.

Proverbs 5 22 Word analysis

• His own iniquities (עֲוֹנוֹתָיו, `avonotav):
  • The term avon (עָוֹן) signifies not just a misdeed, but perversity, moral distortion, and the guilt or punishment associated with such deviation. It implies a willful bending or twisting of God's ways. The possessive "his own" powerfully stresses the self-originated nature of the entrapment; the source of the predicament is internal and personal, not external happenstance. This highlights individual responsibility and culpability.
• entrap (יִלְכְּדֶנּוּ, yilkedennu):
  • From the root lākad (לָכַד), meaning "to catch," "capture," or "seize." This verb is often used for catching prey in a net or snare. It conveys a sense of suddenness and an inescapable capture. The passive voice implies that the wicked person becomes a helpless victim of something that closes in on them.
• the wicked (הָרָשָׁע, hā-rāšā‘):
  • The noun rāšā‘ (רָשָׁע) identifies the moral state of the individual. A "wicked" person is one who is guilty, rebellious against God, and habitually walks in disregard for divine law and righteous living. This indicates a consistent lifestyle of opposing God's established order.
• and he is held fast (וְנִתְמַּךְ, w'nitmak):
  • From the root tāmak (תָּמַךְ), meaning "to grasp," "hold," "support," or "uphold." In the Niphal (passive) stem, it means "to be held," "to be supported," or, in this context, "to be secured" or "bound fast." It accentuates the permanent and immobilizing nature of the trap, implying an inability to escape or move freely.
• by the cords (בְּחַבְלֵי, b'ḥavlēy):
  • The plural ḥevālîm (חֲבָלִים) from ḥevel (חֶבֶל) means "ropes," "cords," or "binding chains." This imagery provides a vivid picture of physical restraint, making the spiritual and moral bondage tangible. It's not a mere inconvenience, but a thorough binding that prevents movement.
• of his sin (חַטָּאתוֹ, ḥaṭṭā'tō):
  • The term ḥaṭṭā't (חַטָּאת) denotes "sin," "offense," or "missing the mark." It is the act or state of deviation from God's perfect standard. Combined with "his," it reiterates personal responsibility, suggesting that the very deeds of transgression become the instruments of self-imprisonment.

Words-group analysis:

• "His own iniquities entrap the wicked": This phrase highlights the profound self-inflicted nature of consequences. It's not some external force primarily but the inherent properties of their sinful choices that catch them. The moral corruption ("iniquities") is the snare, catching the person whose identity is defined by opposition to God's ways ("the wicked").
• "and he is held fast by the cords of his sin": This phrase amplifies and explains the preceding one. The metaphor shifts from an ensnaring trap to being bound by ropes, emphasizing the inescapability and loss of freedom. The material of these binding cords is explicitly "his sin," underscoring that every wrong choice weaves another strand in the binding cord. This cumulative effect leads to a state of complete captivity.

Proverbs 5 22 Bonus section

• The passive voice of "he is held fast" ("וְנִתְמַּךְ") implies a force beyond mere accident, suggesting either the intrinsic spiritual law that consequences follow actions, or a subtle divine hand allowing the natural recompense of sin to unfold.
• This proverb beautifully illustrates the concept of "reaping what one sows," where the harvest is not just external hardship, but an internal captivity that deprives the sinner of genuine freedom and autonomy.
• The progression of imagery—from an initial "entrapment" (sudden catch) to being "held fast by cords" (firm, secure binding)—shows the increasing hold of sin, leading to complete immobility and helplessness. This points to the escalating nature of sinful patterns.
• The verse tacitly points to the Gospel's truth that genuine freedom from sin's cords can only be found through Christ, who frees those enslaved (Jn 8:36), because human will, once entangled, is insufficient for deliverance.

Proverbs 5 22 Commentary

Proverbs 5:22 articulates a profound truth about the self-propagating and self-destructive nature of wickedness. It asserts that divine justice is often woven into the fabric of creation, such that sin carries within it the seeds of its own destruction. The "wicked" person's descent is portrayed not merely as a result of external punishment, but as a direct consequence of their actions and character. Their moral choices, initially perceived as expressions of freedom or pleasure, accumulate into an inescapable spiritual and often practical bondage. The imagery of being "entrapped" and "held fast by cords" powerfully conveys the loss of control and ultimate demise experienced by those who persist in rebellious ways. This is particularly relevant to the chapter's warning against sexual immorality, where the fleeting pleasure of sin gives way to profound regret, ruin, and a life caught in destructive habits. The verse serves as a sober warning, urging adherence to wisdom's path to avoid becoming a prisoner of one's own transgressions.