Proverbs 1:18 — Word Study
WLCוְ֭הֵם לְדָמָ֣ם יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ יִ֝צְפְּנ֗וּ לְנַפְשֹׁתָֽם׃
BSA◂But theyhêm [these evil people, laying in wait] lie in waitʼârab▸ [ambush, lurk privily] for their [own] blooddâm [life-giving] they ambushtsâphan▸ [secretly, to their own demise, lurk, lay wait] their [own] livesnephesh [precious, eternal, souls, living beings]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְ֭הֵם | and they | Conjunction, pronoun |
| לְדָמָ֣ם | for own blood their | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ | they lie in wait | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| יִ֝צְפְּנ֗וּ | they lie hidden | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| לְנַפְשֹׁתָֽם׃ | for own life their | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives. |
| KJV | And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. |
| ASV | And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives. |
| YLT | And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly for their own lives. |
| WEB | but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. |
| BBE | And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves. |
Where they part company is יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of two main clauses connected by a conjunction, each followed by prepositional phrases that clarify the subjects' intentions.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהֵם
verbאָרַב
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 1:18
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 Consequences of Wickednessgenerated
Proverbs 1:18 illustrates the self-destructive nature of wicked schemes, emphasizing that those who plot against others ultimately harm themselves. This verse is part of a larger warning against the enticements of evil companions, as seen in the preceding and following verses. The wise teacher encourages the reader to avoid such paths and seek wisdom instead.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 5:22–23 | The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. |
| 2 | Proverbs 9:17–18 | “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!” |
| 3 | Proverbs 28:17 | A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him. |
| 4 | Esther 7:10 | So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided. |
| 5 | Psalm 7:14–16 | Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ, ye.'e.Rougenerated
The verb אָרַב (arab) means to lie in wait or ambush. It conveys a sense of stealth and hostility, indicating a planned attack rather than a spontaneous act. The parsing as imperfect third person masculine plural shows that it refers to a group of individuals engaged in this action.
In this context, the word highlights the danger posed by those who secretly plot against others, suggesting that their intentions are not only malicious but also ultimately harmful to themselves.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions conveying the idea that the wicked lie in wait for their own destruction.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ and יִ֝צְפְּנ֗וּ govern the main actions of the verse, with their subjects clearly identified as הֵם. The structure emphasizes the actions of the wicked, illustrating their intent to harm.
The word order places the subjects first, highlighting the focus on those who are plotting, while the verbs describe their actions, creating a vivid picture of their deceitful behavior.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the verb אָרַב is rendered with μετέξοντες, which suggests a more active pursuit rather than mere waiting. This choice indicates an interpretation that emphasizes the aggressiveness of their actions.
The LXX translation reflects a broader understanding of the original Hebrew, capturing the essence of the wicked's intentions while adapting the language for a Greek-speaking audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 1:18 warns that those who plot against others are ultimately harming themselves. The verse emphasizes that their actions are not just against others but lead to their own destruction.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To lie in wait means to secretly plan an ambush or surprise attack, often with malicious intent.
This verse serves as a warning against engaging in harmful actions towards others, reminding us that such behavior can lead to our own downfall.
Blood symbolizes life and vitality; plotting against others' lives can lead to serious consequences, both morally and spiritually.
Heeding this warning can help us avoid destructive paths and encourage us to pursue wisdom and righteousness instead.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen the consequences of wickedness in my own life or in the lives of others?
- How can I ensure that my actions do not lead to harm for myself or others?
- What steps can I take to seek wisdom and avoid the pitfalls described in this verse?
- How does this verse challenge me to reflect on my relationships and the influences I allow in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, noting that the wicked lie in wait for their own blood, highlighting the temporal and eternal consequences of their actions.
They themselves also lie in wait for their own blood, etc. For their own blood, that they may be punished with temporal death; but against their souls, he says, that they may also be condemned by the eternal perdition of their souls.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 1:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they lay wait for their [own] blood,.... While they lie in wait for the blood of others, they lie in wait for their own; and when they shed the blood of innocent persons, it in the issue comes
Read John Gill on Proverbs 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. And they lay wait for their (own) blood; they lurk privily for their (own) lives.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 1 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAnd, or but, or yet, or so; for all these ways this particle is used; which is more fully expressed in the next verse. They lay wait for their own blood; the destruction which they design to others falls upon themselves. Their blood answers to their feet, , and belongs to the same persons.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 1 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 1:18 And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives.Ver. 18. And they lay wait.] Their sin will surely find them out. "No doubt this man is a murderer," said those barbarians, "whom though he had escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live." "Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth." Murder ever bleeds fresh in the eye of God; to him many years, yea, that eternity that is past, is but yesterday. Nemo noquitiam gerit in pectore, qui non idem Nemesin in tergo.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 1 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) And they lay wait.—Yet they cannot see that in truth they are laying wait, not for the innocent, but for themselves, as God will deliver him, and bring the mischief they designed for him upon their own head.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 1 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. They lay wait for their own blood] I believe it is the innocent who are spoken of here, for whose blood and lives these lay wait and lurk privily; certainly not their own, by any mode of construction.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 1 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17, 18. Surely in vain the net is spread — Meaning, I have warned you against their devices. I have uncovered the snares to your sight, and you surely will not be more foolish than the thoughtless bird.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives!
Tyndale line
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
And these lay wait for their own blood, they lurk privily for their own lives.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
Strictly literal
And these lay wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives.
And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly for their own lives.
And they lay wait for their own blood, || They watch secretly for their own lives.
While they lie in wait for their [own] blood; they watch in concealment for their [own] lives.
These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.
From the Latin
And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
Simplified
However, these evil people hide ready to kill others, but they themselves are the victims. They're only ambushing themselves!
And they are secretly waiting for their blood and making ready destruction for themselves.
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 and the Septuagint show agreement in the overall message but differ in specific word choices. The Septuagint captures a similar meaning with three of the five words matched, though its structure and wording differ from the Hebrew.
וְ֭הֵם לְדָמָ֣ם יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ יִ֝צְפְּנ֗וּ לְנַפְשֹׁתָֽם׃
3 of the 5 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 1:18
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.
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp3mp
דָּם (dam) means 'blood' and refers to the blood of both humans and animals. It is often associated with death, particularly when shed, and can also figuratively denote the juice of grapes or bloodshed. The term carries religious significance and is used in various contexts, including references to guilt and innocence.
דָּם 300 n.m. blood
blood of man or animal
usually blood become visible
blood used with religious significance
fig. of wine
base
H1818 דָּם blood
1818 dam dawm
from 1826 (compare 119); blood (as that which when shed
causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of
the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed
(i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), +
innocent.
see HEBREW for 01826
see HEBREW for 0119
דָּם (dam) — blood.
1) blood
1a) of wine (fig.)
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
אָרַב (arab) is a primitive root meaning to lie in wait or ambush. It covers actions like lurking or setting an ambush, with forms in Qal, Piel, and Hiphil that indicate different nuances of waiting or attacking. The entries consistently emphasize its hostile connotation.
אָרַב vb. lie in wait
Qal lie in wait (with hostile purpose)
Pi. Pt. pl. liers-in-wait
Hiph. Impf. but txt. dub.
base
H693 אָרַב lie in wait
693 'arab aw-rab'
a primitive root; to lurk:--(lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie
in) wait.
אָרַב (a.rav) — to ambush.
1) to lie in wait, ambush, lurk
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lie in wait
1a2) ambush (participle as subst)
1b) (Piel) ambushers, liers-in-wait (pl. participle)
1c) (Hiphil) to lay an ambush
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
wat:
1. The Substantive:
The word is used in the Old Testament both as a substantive add as a verb. In the New Testament it appears as a verb only. 'erebh, ma'arabh, mean a concealed hiding-place for purposes of sudden attack, an ambuscade.
(1) "Lie in wait": "Abimelech rose up .... from lying in wait" (Jud 9:35 the King James Version); "When they .... abide in the covert to lie in wait" (Job 38:40).
צָפַן (tsaphan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hide or treasure up. It can refer to hiding something by covering it, storing it, or keeping it secret. The word has various forms, including Qal (to hide), Niphal (to be hidden), and Hiphil (to hide from discovery). It conveys both protective and secretive connotations.
צָפַן vb. hide, treasure up
Qal
trans. hide
intrans. lie hid, lurk
Niph. be hidden from before
Hiph. hide
base
H6845 צָפַן hide, treasure up
6845 tsaphan tsaw-fan'
a primitive root; to hide (by covering over); by implication,
to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically
(favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk:--esteem,
hide(-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set) privily, (keep)
secret(-ly, place).
צָפַן (tsa.phan) — to treasure.
1) to hide, treasure, treasure or store up
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to hide, treasure, treasure up
1a2) to lie hidden, lurk
1b) (Niphal) to be hidden, be stored up
1c) (Hiphil) to hide, hide from discovery
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
hid'-'n: The translation of Taman, "to hide," "to bury" (Job 3:16); of tsaphan "to conceal," "store up" (Job 15:20, "The number of years is hidden to the oppressor," the Revised Version (British and American) "even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor," margin "and years that are numbered are laid up"; Job 24:1, "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty," the Revised Version (British and American) "Why are times not laid up by the Almighty?" margin as the King James Version with "Why is it?" prefixed; Ps 83:3, "They consulted (the Revised Version (British and American) "consult") against thy hidden ones"); of matspunim (from tsaphan), "hidden…
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
Prep | N-cp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp