Proverbs 5:22 — Word Study
WLCעַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו יִלְכְּדֻנ֥וֹ אֶת־ הָרָשָׁ֑ע וּבְחַבְלֵ֥י חַ֝טָּאת֗וֹ יִתָּמֵֽךְ׃
BSAThe iniquitiesʻâvôn [moral evil, sins] of a wicked manrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty] entrap himlâkad▸ [capture, seize] the cordstâmak▸ [ropes, bonds] of his sinchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, punishment] entangle himchebel [hold, grasp]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו | iniquities his | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| יִלְכְּדֻנ֥וֹ | they will seize him | Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הָרָשָׁ֑ע | the wicked [person] | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּבְחַבְלֵ֥י | and by [the] cords of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common both plural construct |
| חַ֝טָּאת֗וֹ | sin his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יִתָּמֵֽךְ׃ | he will be held | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. |
| KJV | ¶ His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. |
| ASV | His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin. |
| YLT | His own iniquities do capture the wicked, And with the ropes of his sin he is holden. |
| WEB | The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. |
| BBE | The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin. |
The translations agree on the meaning and imagery of the verse.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each detailing the consequences of iniquity and sin.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbתָּמַךְ
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 5:22
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 on the Consequences of Singenerated
Proverbs 5:22 is part of a larger discourse on the dangers of immoral behavior and the consequences of sin. The preceding verses urge the listener to avoid temptation and to be mindful of the paths they choose, emphasizing the need for wisdom and discipline in life. This warning is a common theme throughout the book of Proverbs, which often contrasts the paths of the wise and the foolish.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 1:18–31 | But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives. |
| 2 | Proverbs 11:3–5 | The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them. |
| 3 | Psalm 7:15–16 | He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. |
| 4 | Psalm 9:15 | The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 2:19 | Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו, a.vo.no.Tavgenerated
The word עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
In this verse, עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו specifically points to the iniquities of a wicked man, indicating that these moral failings are not just actions but a part of his identity that leads to his downfall.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יִלְכְּדֻ, they will seize, which governs two phrases: the subject, עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו, his iniquities, and the object, הָרָשָׁ֑ע, the wicked. The structure highlights how the iniquities directly lead to the wicked being seized.
The second part of the verse introduces another verb, יִתָּמֵֽךְ, he will be held, which describes the outcome of being entangled by the cords of sin. This creates a parallel structure that emphasizes the consequences of sin.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו as παρανομίαι, which means transgressions. This choice broadens the understanding of iniquities to include acts that go against the law, emphasizing the legal implications of sin.
For חַ֝טָּאת֗וֹ, the LXX uses ἁμαρτιῶν, meaning of sins, which aligns closely with the Hebrew but focuses on the moral failures rather than the legal aspects.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 5:22 teaches that the iniquities of a wicked person trap him, and the cords of his sin ensnare him. This verse serves as a warning about the consequences of immoral actions and the importance of living a righteous life.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that a person's own sinful actions can lead to their downfall, trapping them in a cycle of guilt and consequences.
The cords of sin represent the ways in which a person's wrong actions can bind them, making it difficult to escape the consequences of their behavior.
Being labeled as wicked indicates a moral failing and a life characterized by wrongdoing, which leads to negative consequences.
This verse serves as a reminder to be aware of our actions and their potential consequences, encouraging us to choose a path of righteousness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I see the consequences of my actions affecting me?
- How can I avoid being ensnared by my own iniquities?
- What steps can I take to ensure I am not entangled by sin?
- How does understanding the nature of sin help me make better choices?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss the moral implications of sin and the consequences of wrongdoing.
Clothed as you are in the rotten garments of your offenses and “held fast in the meshes of your own sins,” listen to the prophet’s voice saying,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
Let those who are bound fear, those who are loosed fear. Let those who are loosed be afraid of being bound; those who are bound pray to be loosed.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
I have previously said that we are punished by God because of our sins, and now I say that we are punished by ourselves. Both are true. We are, indeed, punished by God, but we act so that he has to punish us.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 5:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHis own iniquities shall take the wicked himself,.... As in a snare or net, as Gersom observes; in which the adulterer is so entangled that he cannot extricate himself; he may fancy that when he
Read John Gill on Proverbs 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHis own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn vain doth he think to disentangle himself from his lusts by repenting when he grows in years, and to escape punishments; for he is in perfect bondage to his lusts, and is neither able nor willing to set himself at liberty; and if he do escape the rage of a jealous husband, and the sentence of the magistrate, yet he shall be infallibly overtaken by the righteous judgment of God.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.Ver. 22. His own iniquities shall take the wicked.] As so many sergeants set on by God; who will surely hamper these unruly beasts, that think to shift and escape his fingers, with the cords of their own sins, binding them hand and foot, and bringing them to condign punishment. So that, say the adulterer be not punished by the magistrate, or come off by comnmtation, yet he shall feel himself in the gall of bitterness and bond of perdition; he shall find that he hath made a halter to hang himself. Nobody can be so torn with stripes as a mind is with the remembrance of wicked…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22, 23) His own iniquities . . .—The final scene in the life of the profligate is here described. He has sinned so long that he is “tied and bound,” hand and foot, with the “chain of his sins,” and cannot get free even had he the wish to do so.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. He shall be holden with the cords of his sins.] Most people who follow unlawful pleasures, think they can give them up whenever they please; but sin repeated becomes customary; custom soon engenders habit; and habit in the end assumes the form of necessity; the man becomes bound with his own cords, and so is led captive by the devil at his will.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 5 →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 iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin.
Tyndale line
¶ His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be held with the cords of his sins.
His owne iniquities shall take the wicked himselfe, and he shall be holden with the cordes of his owne sinne.
Strictly literal
His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
His own iniquities do capture the wicked, And with the ropes of his sin he is holden.
His own iniquities capture the wicked, || And he is holden with the ropes of his sin.
His own iniquities will truly catch the wicked, and with the cords of his sin will he be held firmly.
A wicked person will be seized by his own iniquities; the cords of his sin will hold him tight.
From the Latin
His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with the ropes of his own sins.
Simplified
The wicked are trapped by their evil actions; the cords of their sins tie them up.
The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin.
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 states, 'עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו יִלְכְּדֻנ֥וֹ אֶת־ הָרָשָׁ֑ע וּבְחַבְלֵ֥י חַ֝טָּאת֗וֹ יִתָּמֵֽךְ׃' which translates to 'The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.' The Septuagint, while not providing a complete word-for-word match, shares some similarities, with 4 of the 7 key words aligning, though the exact phrasing and structure differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this verse, indicating that the Masoretic Text's reading is consistent across these witnesses.
עַֽווֹנוֹתָ֗יו יִלְכְּדֻנ֥וֹ אֶת־ הָרָשָׁ֑ע וּבְחַבְלֵ֥י חַ֝טָּאת֗וֹ יִתָּמֵֽךְ׃
4 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.
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 5:22
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.
עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
base
H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
5771 `avon aw-vone'
or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from
5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,
mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
see HEBREW for 07
see HEBREW for 05753
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.
: crime
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.
: guilt
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.
: punishment
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3ms
לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).
לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)
Qal
capture, seize
fig. of entrapping men
of taking by lot
Niph.
be captured in war
of men, be caught
be taken by lot
Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated
base
H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)
3920 lakad law-kad'
a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);
generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);
figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,
be holden, stick together, take.
לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.
1) to capture, take, seize
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to capture, seize
1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)
1a3) to take (by lot)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHVqi3mp/Sp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
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)
Art | Adj — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word חֶ֫בֶל (*chevel*) encompasses meanings related to a cord or rope, territory, and pain or pangs. It can refer to a measuring line, a company or band, and even destruction. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical objects like cords to abstract concepts like sorrow. Notably, it is associated with both physical and emotional contexts.
חֶ֫בֶל n.m. f. cord, territory, band
cord, rope
measuring-cord, line
measured portion, lot, part, region
band, company of prophets
base
חֵ֫בֶל n.m. pain, pang
pains of travail
of other than birth-pangs
base
חֹבְלִים n.[m.]pl. union (lit. binders) name of Zec.’s second symbolic staff
base
חֶ֫בֶל n.m. destruction—Mi 2:10
ref
H2256a חֶ֫בֶל cord, territory, band H2256b חֵ֫בֶל pain, pang H2256c חֹבְלִים union H2256d חֶ֫בֶל destruction
2256 chebel kheh'-bel
or chebel {khay'-bel}; from 2254; a rope (as twisted),
especially a measuring line; by implication, a district or
inheritance (as measured); or a noose (as of cords);
figuratively, a company (as if tied together); also a throe
(especially of parturition); also ruin:--band, coast, company,
cord, country, destruction, line, lot, pain, pang, portion,
region, rope, snare, sorrow, tackling.
see HEBREW for 02254
חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) — Mahalab.
This name means a cord, territory, region
Another name of ach.lav (אַחְלָב "Ahlab" H0303)
חֵ֫בֶל (che.vel) — pain.
1) pain, sorrow, travail, pang
1a) pains of travail
1b) pains, pangs, sorrows
חֹבְלִים (chov.lim) — union.
union
חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) — destruction.
destruction
חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) — cord.
1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company
1a) a rope, cord
1b) a measuring-cord or line
1c) a measured portion, lot, part, region
1d) a band or company
§ destruction
Conj | Prep | N-cp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common both plural constructHC/R/Ncbpc
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…
חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.
H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin
. sin-offering
H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin
. condition of sin, guilt of sin
. punishment for sin
. sin-offering
. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'
or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes
habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or
expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of
sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
see HEBREW for 02398
חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.
sin, sinful thing
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.
: sin
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.
: sin_offering
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.
: punishment/purification
1) sin, sin offering
1a) sin
1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin
1c) punishment for sin
1d) sin-offering
1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word תָּמַךְ (tamak) is a primitive root meaning to grasp, support, or attain. It covers actions like holding fast, maintaining, and helping. The Qal form includes meanings such as to hold up or keep, while the Niphal form suggests being seized or held. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
[תָּמַךְ] vb. grasp, support, attain
Qal
grasp, lay hold of
hold up, support
hold, keep
Niph. in the cords of his sin is he seized
base
H8551 תָּמַךְ grasp, support, attain
8551 tamak taw-mak'
a primitive root; to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep
fast; figuratively, to help, follow close:--(take, up-)hold
(up), maintain, retain, stay (up).
תָּמַךְ (ta.makh) — to grasp.
1) to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to grasp, lay hold of, attain
1a2) to hold up, support
1a3) to hold, keep
1a4) to take hold of each other
1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be held
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms