Proverbs 18:1 — Word Study
WLCלְֽ֭תַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ נִפְרָ֑ד בְּכָל־ תּ֝וּשִׁיָּ֗ה יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃
BSAHe who isolates himselfpârad [separates, divides] pursuesbâqash▸ [seeks, searches for] selfish desirestaʼăvâh [his own, personal, longings, cravings] he rebelsgâlaʻ▸ [quarrels, resists] against allkôl [every, entire] sound judgmenttûwshîyâh [wise, discerning, wisdom, understanding]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְֽ֭תַאֲוָה | desire | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ | he seeks | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| נִפְרָ֑ד | [one who] separates himself | Verb, Niphal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְּכָל־ | on all | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| תּ֝וּשִׁיָּ֗ה | sound wisdom | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃ | he bursts out | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. |
| KJV | Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. |
| ASV | He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom. |
| YLT | For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth. |
| WEB | A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. |
| BBE | He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense. |
Where they part company is תַּאֲוָה — see How Translations Differ.
The structure comprises a main clause followed by a subordinate clause that elaborates on the consequences of isolation.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectפָּרַד
verbבָּקַשׁ
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 18:1
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 — Wisdom in Isolationgenerated
Proverbs 18:1 addresses the dangers of isolating oneself, suggesting that such separation leads to the pursuit of selfish desires and a rebellion against sound judgment. This theme resonates throughout the surrounding verses, which emphasize the importance of understanding and wise counsel, as seen in Proverbs 18:2 and 18:3.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 33:16 | For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?” |
| 2 | Zechariah 7:3 | by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?” |
| 3 | Romans 1:1 | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God— |
| 4 | 2 Corinthians 6:17 | “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” |
| 5 | Jude 1:19 | These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 17 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תַּאֲוָה, Le.ta.'a.vahgenerated
The word תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) is a feminine noun meaning 'desire' or 'longing.' It can represent both positive and negative yearnings, often reflecting the desires of the heart. In this context, it denotes a selfish craving that one pursues when isolated.
This term appears in various contexts, sometimes with negative implications, such as greed or lust. The parsing as a noun in the singular form indicates a specific desire that is personal and self-centered.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses selfish desires and sound judgment.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is יְבַקֵּשׁ, he seeks, which governs the action of the subject נִפְרָד, [one who] separates himself. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the act of seeking and the isolation that precedes it.
The sentence is built around the main clause, followed by a prepositional phrase that describes the nature of the desires pursued and concludes with a clause that indicates the rebellion against wisdom.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew תַּאֲוָה is rendered as προφάσεις, which suggests a focus on the outward expressions of desire rather than the internal longing. This choice may indicate a broader interpretation of the selfish pursuits mentioned in the Hebrew text.
The translation choices in the Septuagint reflect an understanding of these desires as manifesting in actions that are contrary to wise judgment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 18:1 teaches that isolating oneself leads to pursuing selfish desires and rebelling against wise judgment. This warning highlights the importance of community and sound counsel in making decisions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To isolate oneself means to separate from others, which can lead to selfish desires and a lack of wise counsel.
Selfish desires can cloud judgment, leading one to make poor decisions that ignore sound wisdom.
Sound judgment refers to wise and discerning decision-making that is grounded in understanding and experience.
Community provides support, diverse perspectives, and accountability, which are essential for making wise and informed decisions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen isolation impact my decisions or desires?
- How can I seek wise counsel in my life to avoid selfish pursuits?
- What steps can I take to ensure I remain connected with others for sound judgment?
- How do I discern between healthy desires and selfish cravings?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 18:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThrough desire a man having separated himself, seeketh,.... Or, "a separated man seeketh desire" (g); his own desire, will, and pleasure.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThrough desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleCHAPTER 18 According to this interpretation the sense is, Through desire (of it, to wit of wisdom, which is easily understood out of the end of the verse; such ellipses being frequent in Scripture) a man, having separated himself, ( being sequestered from the company, and noise, and business of the world, betaking himself to retirement and solitude, as men do that apply themselves to any serious study.) seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom, i.e. useth all diligence, that he may search and find out all solid knowledge and true wisdom. And this earnest desire and endeavour to get true wisdom within a man’ s self is fitly opposed to the fool’ s contempt of wisdom, or to his desire of it…
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.Ver. 1. Through desire a man having separated himself, &c.] Here the reading that is in margin, methinks, is the better: "He that separates himself" - either from his friend, as the old interpreter makes the sense, or from anything else that he hath formerly followed - "seeketh according to his desire" - seeketh to satisfy his own heart’ s lust, and to compass what he coveteth - "and intermeddleth with every business" - stirs very busily in everything that is done, and leaves no stone unrolled, no course unattempted, whereby he may effect his design, and come off with his credit. The…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXVIII. (1) Through desire a man, having separated himself . . .—This should probably be rendered, The separatist seeketh after his own desire, against all improvement he shows his teeth. The man of small mind is here described, who will only follow his own narrow aims, who holds himself aloof from men of wider views than his own, and will not join with them in the furtherance of philanthropic or religious plans, but rather opposes them with all his power, as he can see nothing but mischief in them. (For his temper of mind, comp. John 7:47-49.) Intermeddleth.—See above on Proverbs 17:14. Wisdom.—See above on Proverbs 2:7.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleCHAPTER XVIII The man who separates himself and seeks wisdom. The fool and the wicked man. Deep wisdom. Contention of fools. The talebearer and the slothful. The name of the Lord. Pride and presumption because of riches. Hastiness of spirit. The wounded spirit. The influence of gifts. The lot. The offended brother. The influence of the tongue. A wife a good from God. The true friend. NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII Verse 1. Through desire a man, having separated himself] The original is difficult and obscure. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic, read as follows: "He who wishes to break with his friend, and seeks occasions or pretenses, shall at all times be worthy of blame." My old MS. Bible…
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1. Through desire] According to the rendering of A.V. this would mean: A man who is possessed by an intense desire of wisdom separates himself from all other avocations and pursuits and from the society of his fellow men, isolates himself, as we say, that he may “intermeddle with” it, give himself wholly to (but see Proverbs 17:14 note) the pursuit of it. We must, however, render with R.V.: He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire: He rageth against (or, quarrelleth with, marg.) all sound wisdom. The proverb then is a condemnation of the selfish isolation of the self-seeker or the misanthrope. Mr Horton, who has an interesting chapter on this verse, writes: “Shakespeare might have…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe text and the marginal readings indicate the two chief constructions of this somewhat difficult verse.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 18 →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
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment.
Tyndale line
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, and rageth against all sound wisdom.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
For the desire thereof hee will separate himselfe to seeke it, and occupie himselfe in all wisdome.
Strictly literal
He that separateth himself seeketh [his] pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, || He interferes with all wisdom.
He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.
From the Latin
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
Simplified
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.
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 aligns with the Septuagint in five of the six words, maintaining a consistent message about the consequences of isolation and selfish desires. The word correspondence shows a strong agreement in the core ideas expressed.
לְֽ֭תַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ נִפְרָ֑ד בְּכָל־ תּ֝וּשִׁיָּ֗ה יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃
5 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 18:1
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.
תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) means 'desire' and encompasses a range of meanings including longing, appetite, and covetousness. It can refer to both a subjective feeling of satisfaction and an objective charm or delight. The term is used in various contexts, sometimes with negative connotations such as lust or greed.
תַּאֲוָה n.f. desire
thing desired
base
H8378 תַּאֲוָה desire
8378 ta'avah tah-av-aw'
from 183 (abbreviated); a longing; by implication, a delight
(subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm):--dainty,
desire, X exceedingly, X greedily, lust(ing), pleasant. See
also 6914.
see HEBREW for 0183
see HEBREW for 06914
תַּאֲוָה (ta.a.vah) — desire.
1) desire
1a) desire, wish, longings of one's heart
1a1) lust, appetite, covetousness (bad sense)
1b) thing desired, object of desire
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
de-zir': The verb "to desire" in the Scriptures usually means "to long for," "to ask for," "to demand," and may be used in a good or bad sense (compare De 7:25 the King James Version). the Revised Version (British and American) frequently renders the more literal meaning of the Hebrew. Compare Job 20:20, "delight"; Pr 21:20, "precious"; Ps 40:6, "delight"; aiteo (except Col 1:9), and erotao (except Lu 7:36) are rendered "to ask" and zeteo, "to seek" (compare Lu 9:9 et. al.). The Hebrew kacaph, literally, "to lose in…
→ SPIRITUAL De 4:29; Ps 9:1; 17:1; 22:26; 24:6; 25:5,15; 27:8,14; 33:20; 34:10; 37:4,7,9,34; 39:12; 40:1,8; 42:1-11; 51:1-17; 62:1; 63:1,8; 68:28; 69:3,32; 70:4; 81:10; 84:2; 86:11,12,16; 94:19; 105:4; 118:17; 119:2,10,20,40,77,88,116,117,122,133,149,156; 123:1,2; 130:5,6; 143:5,6; Pr 2:3-5; 8:17,34; Isa 8:17,19; 26:8,9; 40:31; 55:1,2,6; Jer 29:13; La 3:25,26,41; Ho 10:12; Hab 3:2; Mt 5:6;
בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.
[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek
Pi.
seek to find
seek to secure
seek the face
desire, demand
require, exact
exact equivalent or penalty for
(late) ask, request
Pu. be sought
base
H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek
1245 baqash baw-kash'
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically
in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,
beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,
(make) request, require, seek (for).
בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to seek to find
1a2) to seek to secure
1a3) to seek the face
1a4) to desire, demand
1a5) to require, exact
1a6) to ask, request
1b) (Pual) to be sought
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
פָּרַד (parad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to divide or separate. It encompasses various forms, including making a separation and being divided. The entries detail its use in different grammatical aspects, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating a range of meanings from dividing to being separated.
[פָּרַד] vb. divide
Qal Pt. pass. divided
Niph.
divide, separate (intrans.)
be divided, separated
Pi. make a separation
Pu. Pt. divided
Hiph.
divide, separate
make a division, separation, between
Hithp. be divided, separated, from each other
base
H6504 פָּרַד divide .Pt. pass. divided
. . divide, separate (intrans.)
. be divided, separated
. make a separation
. Pt. divided
. . divide, separate
. make a division, separation, between
. be divided, separated, from each other
6504 parad paw-rad'
a primitive root; to break through, i.e. spread or separate
(oneself):--disperse, divide, be out of joint, part, scatter
(abroad), separate (self), sever self, stretch, sunder.
פָּרַד (pa.rad) — to separate.
1) to separate, divide
1a) (Qal) to divide
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to divide, separate
1b2) to be divided, be separated
1c) (Piel) to be separated
1d) (Pual) to be divided
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to divide, separate
1e2) to make a division, make a separation
1f) (Hithpael) to be divided, be separated, get separated
Aramaic equivalent: be.dar (בְּדַר "to scatter" H0921)
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singularHVNrmsa
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
תּוּשִׁיָּה (tuwshiyah) refers to sound or efficient wisdom and abiding success. It is derived from a root that implies support or ability, encompassing concepts like understanding and enterprise. The term is associated with wisdom that leads to success and effective outcomes.
תּוּשִׁיָּה n.f. sound, efficient wisdom, abiding success
base
H8454 תּוּשִׁיָּה sound, efficient wisdom, abiding success
8454 tuwshiyah too-shee-yaw'
or tushiyah { too-shee-yaw'}; from an unused root probably
meaning to substantiate; support or (by implication) ability,
i.e. (direct) help, (in purpose) an undertaking,
(intellectual) understanding:--enterprise, that which (thing
as it) is, substance, (sound) wisdom, working.
תּוּשִׁיָּה (tu.shiy.yah) — wisdom.
1) wisdom, sound knowledge, success, sound or efficient wisdom, abiding success
1a) sound or efficient wisdom
1b) abiding success (of the effect of sound wisdom)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
wiz'-dum:
1. Linguistic
2. History
3. Religious Basis
4. Ideals
5. Teaching of Christ
6. Remainder of the New Testament
(1) James
(2) Paul
7. Hypostasis
LITERATURE
1. Linguistic:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…
גָּלַע (gala`) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to expose or lay bare. It can also refer to breaking out in contention, particularly in the Hithpael form, where it implies disclosing oneself. The entries suggest a focus on obstinacy and quarrelsome behavior.
[גָּלַע] vb. expose, lay bare—only Hithp. disclose oneself, break out
base
H1566 גָּלַע
1566 gala` gaw-lah'
a primitive root; to be obstinate:--(inter-)meddle (with).
גָּלַע (ga.la) — to quarrel.
1) to expose, lay bare
1a) (Hithpael)
1a1) to disclose oneself, break out
1a2) to break out (in contention)
V-Hithpael-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singularHVti3ms