Proverbs 21:18 — Word Study
WLCכֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃
BSAThe wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of sin] [become] a ransomkôpher [a redemption price, to cover or atone for] for the righteoustsaddîyq [just, upright in character] and the faithlessbâgad [deceitful, unfaithful] fortachath the uprightyâshâr [straight, doing what is right]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כֹּ֣פֶר | [is] a ransom | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לַצַּדִּ֣יק | for the righteous [person] | Preposition |
| רָשָׁ֑ע | a wicked [person] | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְתַ֖חַת | and in place of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| יְשָׁרִ֣ים | upright [people] | Adj |
| בּוֹגֵֽד׃ | [one who] acts treacherously | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright. |
| KJV | The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. |
| ASV | The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright. |
| YLT | The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer. |
| WEB | The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright. |
| BBE | The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of כֹּפֶר — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses connected by a conjunction, highlighting the contrast between the wicked and the righteous.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectרָשָׁע
verbבָּגַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 21:18
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 Contrast of the Wicked and the Righteousgenerated
Proverbs 21:18 presents a stark contrast between the wicked and the righteous, illustrating how the actions of the wicked can serve as a form of payment or substitution for the righteous. This verse is part of a larger discourse on morality and justice found throughout the book of Proverbs, where wisdom is often personified and contrasted with folly. The surrounding verses emphasize the consequences of one's choices and the inherent justice in the moral order established by God.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 11:8 | The righteous man is delivered from trouble; in his place the wicked man goes in. |
| 2 | Isaiah 43:3–4 | For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. |
| 3 | Isaiah 53:4–5 | Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. |
| 4 | Isaiah 55:8–9 | “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. |
| 5 | 1 Peter 3:18 | For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כֹּפֶר, Ko.fergenerated
The word כֹּפֶר (kofer) is a masculine singular noun that means 'ransom' or 'redemption price.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to cover,' which highlights its association with atonement and substitution. The term appears in various contexts, such as in Genesis 6:14, where it refers to pitch used to cover the ark, symbolizing protection and preservation.
In this verse, כֹּפֶר signifies that the wicked, through their actions, become a form of payment for the righteous, suggesting a moral exchange where the consequences of wickedness impact those who are just. This concept of substitution underscores the idea that the moral order demands justice, and the actions of the wicked cannot go unaccounted for.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the rendering of כֹּפֶר as 'ransom.' The BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all maintain this interpretation, emphasizing the concept of a price paid for the righteous.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is built around two main clauses: the first states that the wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the second states that the faithless act in place of the upright. The finite verb is implied in both clauses, connecting the subjects to their respective predicates.
The word order emphasizes the contrast between the wicked and the righteous, with the subjects placed at the beginning of each clause, highlighting their roles in the moral exchange described.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כֹּפֶר as a term related to justice, indicating a similar understanding of the moral implications of the wicked's actions. The Greek word used reflects the idea of a price or payment, aligning with the Hebrew meaning.
This choice of translation shows a consistent interpretation of the moral dynamics at play, further emphasizing the theme of justice in the context of wickedness and righteousness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 21:18 states that the wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless act treacherously in place of the upright. This highlights the moral consequences of one's actions, showing how the wicked can impact the lives of the just.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase suggests that the actions of the wicked can serve as a form of payment or consequence for the righteous, indicating a moral exchange in the order of justice.
This verse exemplifies the book's focus on morality and justice, contrasting the behaviors of the wicked with those of the righteous and emphasizing the consequences of one's choices.
This indicates that those who are deceitful and unfaithful can take the place of the righteous, further emphasizing the moral implications of their actions.
It serves as a reminder that our actions have consequences and that moral choices impact not only ourselves but also those around us.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see the consequences of wickedness in my own life or community?
- How can I strive to embody the characteristics of the righteous and upright in my daily actions?
- What are some examples of moral choices that reflect the teachings of Proverbs in today's world?
- How can I support others in making righteous choices and avoiding the path of the wicked?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, discussing the moral implications of the wicked and the righteous in his commentary on Proverbs.
The impious is given in place of the just, etc. The just and the upright seem to be the same; but there is a difference between the impious and the iniquitous, for all the iniquitous are reprobates;Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 21 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 21:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous,.... Not to make satisfaction for them, as Christ is a ransom for his people; but as a ransom is in the room of another, so the wicked cometh in the
Read John Gill on Proverbs 21 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. The wicked (shall be) a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 21 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe wicked shall be brought into those troubles which were either threatened by God or designed by wicked men against the righteous, and by that means, as by a ransom, the righteous shall be delivered. Thus Achan was a ransom for Israel, , and Haman for Mordecai.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 21 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 21:18 The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.Ver. 18. The wicked shall be a ransom.] Heb., Copher, a cover, or an expiation; as Achan was for Israel, and as those condemned persons among the heathens, that in time of pestilence or contagious infection were offered up by way of public expiation, with these words, περιψημαημωνγενου; Be thou a reconciliation for us. To this custom St Paul seems to allude. Thus, when Saul’ s sons were hanged, God’ s wrath was appeased; and when guilty Jonah was cast into the sea, all was calm. Thus God gave Egypt for Israel’ s ransom; yea, Sheba and Ethiopia. And although he may seem sometimes to "sell…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 21 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous.—The righteous is “delivered out of trouble (Proverbs 11:8; comp. Isaiah 57:1), and the wicked cometh in his stead” to receive upon his own head God’s descending punishment. So it was with Mordecai and Haman.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 21 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous] God often in his judgments cuts off the wicked, in order to prevent them from destroying the righteous. And in general, we find that the wicked fall into the traps and pits they have digged for the righteous.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 21 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18. a ransom] Comp. “I have given Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee … I will give men for thee and peoples for thy life,” Isaiah 43:3-4. Egypt was, so to speak, the price paid for the deliverance of Israel (Exodus 10:7; Exodus 12:29; Exodus 14:30). The second member of the verse is better rendered, with R.V., And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright. Comp. Proverbs 11:8.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 21 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleCompare the marginal reference. Evil doers seem to draw down the wrath of God upon their heads, and so become, as it were, the scapegoats of the comparatively righteous.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 21 →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
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright.
Tyndale line
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
The wicked shalbe a ransome for the iust, and the transgressour for the righteous.
Strictly literal
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.
The wicked [is] an atonement for the righteous, || And the treacherous dealer for the upright.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous shall be put in the stead of the upright.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
From the Latin
The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.
Simplified
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃, while the Septuagint has only partial correspondence. The core message remains intact across these witnesses, underscoring the contrast between the wicked and the righteous.
כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃
2 of the 6 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.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 21:18
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.
כֹּפֶר (kofer) has several meanings, including 'ransom' or 'price of a life,' 'pitch' (as in bitumen), 'henna' (a plant), and 'village.' It is derived from a root meaning 'cover.' The word appears in contexts related to redemption and construction, notably in Genesis 6:14 and 1 Samuel 6:18.
ref
כֹּ֫פֶר n.m. name of a plant, El Ḥenna
base
כֹּפֶר n.[m.] village;—only sg. cstr. 1 S 6:18
ref
H3724a כֹּפֶר the price of a life, ransom H3724b כֹּ֫פֶר pitch H3724c כֹּ֫פֶר name of a plant H3724d כֹּפֶר village
3724 kopher ko'-fer
from 3722; properly, a cover, i.e. (literally) a village (as
covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and
the henna plant (as used for dyeing); figuratively, a
redemption-price:--bribe, camphire, pitch, ransom,
satisfaction, sum of money, village.
see HEBREW for 03722
כֹּפֶר (ko.pher) — ransom.
price of a life, ransom, bribe
כֹּ֫פֶר (ko.pher) — pitch.
asphalt, pitch (as a covering)
כֹּ֫פֶר (ko.pher) — henna.
the henna plant, name of a plant (henna?)
כֹּפֶר (ko.pher) — village.
village
Another spelling of ka.phar (כָּפָר "village" H3723H)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Ransom
The price or payment made for our redemption, as when it is said that the Son of man “gave his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28; comp. Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:23, 24; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19. In all these passages the same idea is expressed). This word is derived from the Fr.…
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHRd/Aamsa
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Adj — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: under/below
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m
1a) the under part adv accus
1b) beneath prep
1c) under, beneath
1c1) at the foot of (idiom)
1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)
1c3) of subjection or conquest
1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands
1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)
1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)
1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)
conj
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
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.
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…
יָשָׁר (yashar) means straight or upright, covering a range of meanings from physical straightness to moral correctness. It can refer to something that is pleasing, just, or fitting, as well as the concept of uprightness itself. The term is also associated with a figure named Jashar, mentioned in Joshua 10:13.
יָשָׁר adj. straight, right
straight, level
right, pleasing
straightforward, just, upright
abstr., uprightness
base
H3477 יָשָׁר straight, right . straight, level
. right, pleasing
. straightforward, just, upright
. abstr., uprightness
3477 yashar yaw-shawr'
from 3474; straight (literally or figuratively):--convenient,
equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), + pleased well right(-eous),
straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 03474
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.
1) straight, upright, correct, right
1a) straight, level
1b) right, pleasing, correct
1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper
1d) uprightness, righteous, upright
1e) that which is upright (subst)
Also means: ya.shar (יָשָׁר "upright" H3477I)
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — Jashar.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jos.10.13
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.
1) straight, upright, correct, right
1a) straight, level
1b) right, pleasing, correct
1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper
1d) uprightness, righteous, upright
1e) that which is upright (subst)
Adj — AdjHAampa
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…
בָּגַד (bagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to act treacherously or deceitfully. It is derived from a root that suggests covering or acting covertly, and it encompasses actions such as offending or being unfaithful. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, highlighting themes of betrayal and unfaithfulness.
[בָּגַד] vb. act or deal treacherously
base
H898 בָּגַד act or deal treacherously
898 bagad baw-gad'
a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to
act covertly; by implication, to pillage:--deal deceitfully
(treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or),
(depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly,
man), X very.
בָּגַד (ba.gad) — to act treacherously.
1) to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously
1a) (Qal) to act or deal treacherously, faithlessly, deceitfully, offend
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa