Proverbs 21:4

Proverbs 21:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
• New International Version (NIV)Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

Context of Proverbs 21:4

2Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives]. 3To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God]. 5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty. 6Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death.

Proverbs 21:4 word by word

רוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• An highרוּםrûm rûm · heightH7312
• lookעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• and a proudרָחָבrâchâb · broad: arrogantH7342
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• the plowingנִירnîyr nir · fallow groundH5215
• of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• sinחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:4

• Proverbs 6:17A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
• Proverbs 8:13The [reverent] fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.
• Proverbs 30:13There is a generation (class of people)—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are raised in arrogance.
• Psalms 10:4The wicked, in the haughtiness of his face, will not seek nor inquire for Him; All his thoughts are, “There is no God [so there is no accountability or punishment].”
• Isaiah 2:11The proud look of man will be degraded And the arrogance of men will be humbled, And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
• Isaiah 3:16Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with outstretched necks and seductive (flirtatious, alluring) eyes, And trip along with mincing steps and an affected gait And walk with jingling anklets on their feet,
• Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.”
• 1 Peter 5:5Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble.
• Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive [to the Lord]. How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?
• Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight!
• Romans 14:23But he who is uncertain [about eating a particular thing] is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].

Commentaries on Proverbs 21:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4A high look - The evidence of pride, self-conceit, and vanity. A proud heart, from which the high look, etc., come. And the ploughing - נר ner, lucerna, the lamp, the prosperity and posterity of the wicked; is sin - it is evil in the seed, and evil in the root evil in the branch, and evil in the fruit. They are full of sin themselves, and what they do is sinful.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The plowing - The Hebrew word, with a change in its vowel points, may signify either: (1) the “fallow field,” the “tillage” of Proverbs 13:23, or (2) the lamp. According to: (1) the verse would mean, “The outward signs of pride, the proud heart, the broad lands of the wicked, all are evil.” (2) however, belongs, as it were, to the language of the time and of the book Proverbs 13:9; Proverbs 24:20. The “lamp of the wicked” is their outwardly bright…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Sin is the pride, the ambition, the glory, the joy, and the business of wicked men.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Appearance (eyes), character (heart), and actions are all important. God dislikes pride (see Proverbs 6:17–18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. high look--(Compare Margin; Psa 131:1). proud heart--or, "heart of breadth," one that is swollen (compare Psa 101:5). ploughing--better "lamp," a frequent figure for prosperity (Pr 20:20); hence joy or delight.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 21:4

• Pride

In the dictionaries

• Mind
• Ponder
• Toss
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings