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Proverbs 1:32 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּ֤י מְשׁוּבַ֣ת פְּתָיִ֣ם תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם וְשַׁלְוַ֖ת כְּסִילִ֣ים תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃

BSAForkîy the waywardnessmᵉshûwbâh [faithlessness, turning away] of the simplepᵉthîy [naive, easily influenced] will slay themhârag [kill, destroy with intent] and the complacencyshalvâh [ease, false sense of security] of foolskᵉçîyl [stupid, silly, rejecting God] will destroy themʼâbad [perish, be lost]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 32 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (te.'a.be.Dem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 1:32quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns that the waywardness of naive people and the complacency of fools lead to their destruction.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, traditionally Solomon, addressing the consequences of foolishness.
Where we areThis verse is part of a warning about the dangers of ignoring wisdom, found in Proverbs 1.
The hard wordתַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם
Take awayTurning away from wisdom leads to death and destruction.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Proverbs 1:32

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Consequences of Ignoring Wisdomgenerated

30They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

Proverbs 1:32 is situated within a series of warnings about the importance of heeding wisdom and counsel. The preceding verses illustrate the consequences of rejecting advice, emphasizing that those who ignore wisdom will face dire outcomes. This passage serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of complacency and foolishness, contrasting the outcomes of the wise and the foolish.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 8:36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
2John 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
3Hebrews 10:38–39But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
4Hebrews 12:25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
5Deuteronomy 32:15–44But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked— becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מְשׁוּבָה, me.shu.Vatgenerated

The noun מְשׁוּבָה (me.shu.Va) refers to a state of waywardness or faithlessness, indicating a turning away from God. It is derived from a root meaning to turn back, and it often conveys the idea of apostasy or backsliding, particularly in the context of Israel's unfaithfulness to God.

In this verse, it highlights the peril faced by naive individuals who stray from wisdom. The term emphasizes that their lack of discernment leads to their downfall, as they are easily influenced and misled.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses waywardness and complacency to describe the behaviors leading to destruction. The KJV and ASV also use waywardness, while the FBV opts for stupid in place of fools.

Where translations differ, they do so on the rendering of כְּסִילִ֣ים. The majority use fools (ASV, BSB, KJV), while the FBV uses stupid.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of this verse consists of two main clauses, each with its own subject and verb. The first clause centers on the waywardness of the naive, which will lead to their slaying, while the second clause focuses on the complacency of fools, which will result in their destruction.

The finite verbs תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם (it will slay them) and תְּאַבְּדֵֽם (it will destroy them) are pivotal, indicating the consequences that follow the subjects of each clause.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מְשׁוּבָה as ἠδίκουν, which implies wrongdoing or injustice, suggesting a broader interpretation of the consequences of waywardness. This choice indicates that the translators viewed the act of turning away from wisdom as not only foolish but also morally wrong.

The term כְּסִילִ֣ים is rendered as ἀσεβεῖς, meaning 'ungodly,' which emphasizes the rejection of God’s wisdom and the moral implications of foolishness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 1:32 warns that the waywardness of naive people will lead to their destruction, and the complacency of fools will cause them to perish. The verse highlights the dangers of ignoring wisdom and the consequences that follow.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the waywardness of the simple will slay them?

It means that those who turn away from wisdom and guidance will face dire consequences, leading to their destruction.

How does complacency affect fools?

Complacency can lead fools to a false sense of security, ultimately resulting in their downfall.

What is the significance of being naive in this context?

Being naive implies a lack of discernment and wisdom, making one susceptible to harmful influences and decisions.

How can we avoid the pitfalls mentioned in this verse?

By seeking wisdom, listening to counsel, and being aware of the dangers of complacency and waywardness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life might I be naive or complacent?
  2. How can I seek wisdom and guidance in my daily decisions?
  3. What are some consequences I have seen from ignoring wise counsel?
  4. How can I help others who may be facing the dangers of foolishness?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Gregory the Dialogist references this verse to illustrate the dangers of turning away from wisdom and the consequences of complacency.

Gregory the DialogistThe Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 26 c. 540–604
Hence Solomon says, "The turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Hence Paul admonishes, saying, "They that buy, as though they possessed not;
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 1:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them,.... Or be the cause of their being slain; even their turning away from Christ, their aversion to him; their turning their backs on him, and a deaf

Read John Gill on Proverbs 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Turning away, to wit, from God, and from his counsels and reproofs; so this is opposed to hearkening unto God, . Or, as it is rendered in the margin, and by divers others, the ease or rest, the peace or tranquillity, as it seems to be explained in the next clause. Shall destroy them; it commonly proves the occasion of their ruin, by making them presumptuous, and secure, and worldly, and proud, and forgetful of God and of their own eternal happiness, whereby they provoke God’ s wrath, and bring upon themselves swift and certain destruction. Thus he meets with the common objection against the fear of God, taken from the present impunity and prosperity of ungodly men.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.Ver. 32. For the turning away.] Whereas it might be objected that meanwhile wicked men live at ease and prosper; it is granted, but withal asserted, that these fatted oxen are but fitted for the slaughter. The sunshine of prosperity ripens the sin of the wicked apace. Bernard calls it misericordiam omni indignatione crudeliorem, a mercy that he had no mind to. What good is there in having a fine suit with the plague in it? As soon may a man miscarry upon the soft sands as upon the hard rocks.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(32) The turning away of the simple . . .—i.e., from God. (Comp. Jeremiah 2:19.) Prosperity of fools—i.e., the security, apathy of dull, stupid people (khesîlîm), who cannot believe that God will fulfil His threatenings. (Comp. Psalms 73 throughout.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 32. For the turning away of the simple] This difficult place seems to refer to such a case as we term turning king's evidence; where an accomplice saves his own life by impeaching the rest of his gang. This is called his turning or repentance, משובה meshubah; and he was the most likely to turn, because he was of the פתים pethayim, seduced or deceived persons. And this evidence was given against them when they were in their prosperity, שלוה shalvah, their security, enjoying the fruits of their depredations; and being thus in a state of fancied security, they were the more easily taken and brought to justice.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

32. turning away] Lit. turning. The word, however, is commonly used of turning away from God and from good. So here: “I called you to turn to me (Proverbs 1:23), and instead, you have turned from me.” Backsliding (R.V.), is less suitable, as denoting a turning away from a position already taken up, whereas “the simple” are regarded as on neutral ground, and not yet having turned in one direction or the other. prosperity] Rather, carelessness (R.V. marg.), the fruit of prosperity. securitas, Maurer. Comp. Ezekiel 16:49, where the same word is rendered, prosperous ease, R.V.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Turning - Wisdom had called the simple to “turn,” and they had turned, but it was “away” from her. For “prosperity” read carelessness.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 1 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall cause them to perish.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For the turning of the simple slayeth them, And the security of the foolish destroyeth them.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For the turning of the simple slays them, || And the security of the foolish destroys them.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For the defection of the simple will slay them, and the prosperity of fools will cause them to be lost.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Stupid people are killed by their rebellion; foolish people are destroyed by their lack of concern.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For the turning back of the simple from teaching will be the cause of their death, and the peace of the foolish will be their destruction.

Word by word, the decisions they made

כְּסִילִ֣יםke.si.Lim fools H3684 2 different renderings
foolsASV BSB DRA ILT KJV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB
stupidFBV

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

כִּ֤י(dm)clausenoun phrase · subjectמְשׁוּבַ֣ת[the].turning.awayפְּתָיִ֣םof.naive.peopleverbתַּֽהַרְגֵ֑itobjectםwill.ruin.themוְand.[the]clausenoun phrase · subjectשַׁלְוַ֖תsecurityכְּסִילִ֣יםof.foolsverbתְּאַבְּדֵֽitobjectםwill.destroy.them

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text states, "For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them." The Septuagint agrees with this meaning, as all seven words match in correspondence, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q102) also align closely with the Masoretic Text, but include a partly restored word and one entirely supplied by an editor, indicating some textual variation but maintaining the overall message of the verse.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

כִּ֤י מְשׁוּבַ֣ת פְּתָיִ֣ם תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑ם וְשַׁלְוַ֖ת כְּסִילִ֣ים תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֤יγὰρמְשׁוּבַ֣תἠδίκουνפְּתָיִ֣םνηπίουςתַּֽהַרְגֵ֑םφονευθήσονταιוְשַׁלְוַ֖תἐχετασμὸςכְּסִילִ֣יםἀσεβεῖςתְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃ὀλεῖ

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q102a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

כי מושכת פתים [תהרג׳ם] ושלות כסילים תאבד׳ם

5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Proverbs 1:32כִּיforforכִּימְשׁוּבָה[the] waywa[the] waywardneמְשׁוּבָהפֶּ֫תִיnaive peoplnaive peopleפֶּ֫תִיהָרַגit will ruiit will ruin thהָרַגשַׁלְוָהand [the] eand [the] ease שַׁלְוָהכְּסִילfoolsfoolsכְּסִילאָבַדit will desit will destroyאָבַדשׁוּבto return:to return: retuשׁוּבפָּתָהto open wito open wideפָּתָהשָׁלָהto prosperto prosperשָׁלָהכָּסַלbe stupidbe stupidכָּסַליָדַעto knowto knowיָדַערָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַברָפָאto healto healרָפָאעָנַשׁto fineto fineעָנַשׁלִיץto mockto mockלִיץבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּרחֶ֫רֶבswordswordחֶ֫רֶבמַלְכוּתroyaltyroyaltyמַלְכוּתבּוֹאLeboLeboבּוֹאאִוֶּ֫לֶתfollyfollyאִוֶּ֫לֶתחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהשָׁמַדto destroyto destroyשָׁמַד
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 1:32

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
כִּ֤יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
מְשׁוּבַ֣תme.shu.Vat [the] waywardness of H4878 Noun common · feminine singular construct
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes turning away from God, or faithlessness. It is used to convey the idea of apostasy or backsliding. In the Bible, it is often used to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God.
Amplified meaning
faithlessness, turning away
Tyndale gloss
faithlessness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְשׁוּבָה (mshuwbah) refers to concepts of turning back or apostasy, indicating a turning away from faithfulness. It is derived from the root meaning to turn back. The entries consistently highlight its association with backsliding and faithlessness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מְשׁוּבָה], מְשֻׁבָה n.f. turning back, apostasy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4878 מְשׁוּבָה, מְשֻׁבָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4878 mshuwbah mesh-oo-baw'

or mshubah {mesh-oo-baw'}; from 7725;

apostasy:--backsliding, turning away.

see HEBREW for 07725

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְשׁוּבָה (me.shu.vah) — faithlessness.

turning away, turning back, apostasy, backsliding

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
פְּתָיִ֣םpe.ta.Yim naive people H6612 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means being simple or naive, like someone who is easily influenced. It appears in Proverbs 1:4, where Solomon advises against being foolish. In the Bible, it often refers to someone lacking wisdom.
Amplified meaning
naive, easily influenced
Tyndale gloss
simple
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫תִי (pethiy) refers to a state of being simple or foolish, with implications of being open-minded or naive. It encompasses both an adjective describing a person as simple-minded and a noun indicating simplicity or lack of wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 1:22. The term is derived from a root meaning to be open or seducible.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫תִי adj. simple, poss. as open-minded

base

[פְּתִי] n.f. simplicity (i.e. lack of wisdom), Pr 1:22.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6612a פֶּ֫תִי simple, poss. as open-minded H6612b פְּתִי simplicity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6612 pthiy peth-ee'

or pethiy {peh'-thee}; or pthaeiy {peth-aw-ee'}; from 6601;

silly (i.e. seducible):--foolish, simple(-icity, one).

see HEBREW for 06601

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫תִי (pe.ti) — simple.

adj

simple, foolish, open-minded

פְּתִי (pe.ti) — simplicity.

simplicity, naivete

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
תַּֽהַרְגֵ֑םta.har.Gem it will ruin them H2026 Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To kill or slay with intent, as seen in the Bible when God instructs the Israelites to destroy certain nations. This word is used in various forms, including to murder or destroy. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Amplified meaning
kill, destroy with intent
Tyndale gloss
to kill
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָרַג (harag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to kill or slay, often implying ruthless violence. It encompasses a range of meanings including murder, destruction, and being killed. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, such as wholesale slaughter in battle or divine judgment. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, indicating various nuances of killing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָרַג vb. kill, slay

Qal

kill, slay, implying ruthless violence

hence of wholesale slaughter after battle

of God’s slaying in judgment

rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)

of killing beasts

of killing by beasts

quite general

destroy, ruin

Niph.

shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?

pass. of Qal 1 b

Pu. be slain

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2026 הָרַג kill, slay

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2026 harag haw-rag'

a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out

of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter),

slay(-er), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָרַג (ha.rag) — to kill.

1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kill, slay

1a2) to destroy, ruin

1b) (Niphal) to be killed

1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
HVqi3fs/Sp3mp
for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
וְשַׁלְוַ֖תve.shal.Vat and [the] ease of H7962 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a state of quietness and ease, like having abundance and prosperity. It can also mean having a false sense of security, but in the Bible, it often refers to the peace and tranquility that comes from God.
Amplified meaning
ease, false sense of security
Tyndale gloss
ease
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שַׁלְוָה (*shalvah*) is built from the root שָׁלַו (*shalav*), meaning to be at ease. It encompasses meanings such as quietness, ease, and prosperity. The entries collectively highlight its association with both genuine and false security.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁלְוָה n.f. quietness, ease

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7962 שַׁלְוָה quietness, ease

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7962 shalvah shal-vaw'

from 7951; security (genuine or false):--abundance,

peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness.

see HEBREW for 07951

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁלְוָה (shal.vah) — ease.

quietness, ease, prosperity

Aramaic equivalent: she.le.vah (שְׁלֵוָה "ease" H7963)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
כְּסִילִ֣יםke.si.Lim fools H3684 Adj
70× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes a fool or someone who is stupid and silly. It is often used to describe people who reject God's wisdom. The Bible uses this word to warn against foolish behavior.
Amplified meaning
stupid, silly, rejecting God
Tyndale gloss
fool
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool or a stupid person. It is derived from a root meaning 'fat' and is used figuratively to describe someone who is foolish, simple-minded, or arrogant. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing a lack of wisdom or understanding.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּסִיל 70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3684 כְּסִיל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3684 kciyl kes-eel'

from 3688; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or

silly:--fool(-ish).

see HEBREW for 03688

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּסִיל (ke.sil) — fool.

fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- All men are, without the knowledge of God

Tit 3:3

- Deny God

Ps 14:1; 53:1

- Blaspheme God

Ps 74:18

- Reproach God

Ps 74:22

- Make a mock at sin

Pr 14:9

- Despise instruction

Pr 1:7; 15:5

- Hate knowledge

Pr 1:22

- Delight not in understanding

Pr 18:2

- Sport themselves in mischief

Pr 10:23

- Walk in darkness

Ec 2:14

- Hate to depart from evil

for [the] waywardness of naive people it will ruin them and [the] ease of fools it will destroy them
תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃te.'a.be.Dem it will destroy them H6 Verb piel imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Amplified meaning
perish, be lost
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—

Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,

lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be

undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate

1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb piel imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
HVpi3fs/Sp3mp
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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