Proverbs 1:16

16 For their feet to evil do run, And they haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 1:16

For their feet run to evil
To the evil of sin, to commit robberies and murder, and all manner of iniquity; they are eager upon it, and in haste and swift to do it, ( Proverbs 6:18 ) ^F24; being carried away with their inordinate affections, which are as feet to the soul; and drawn aside with their lusts, and pushed on by Satan, and, encouraged by one another, and so rush on headlong to the evil of punishment also; and which is a reason why their ways and paths should be abstained from, because they bring upon them swift destruction; it is to their own hurt they run, as Jarchi interprets it; though the first sense seems best to agree with what follows; and make haste to shed blood;
the blood of innocent persons, in order to get their substance, to cover their iniquity and shame, and that no information may be given of them; this is mentioned as having something very horrible in it, in order to deter from joining with them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 "Velox ad facinus", Claudian. in Rufin. l. 1. v. 240.

Proverbs 1:16 In-Context

14 Thy lot thou dost cast among us, One purse is -- to all of us.'

15 My son! go not in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path,

16 For their feet to evil do run, And they haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.

18 And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly for their own lives.