Proverbs 4:18

Proverbs 4:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
• New International Version (NIV)The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Context of Proverbs 4:18

16Wicked people have to do evil things. They cannot go to sleep unless they have been cruel to someone that day. 17Evil acts are their food. Violence is their drink. The life of righteous people is like the sun at dawn. It gets brighter and brighter until midday. 19But the life of wicked people is like a very dark road. They cannot even see what causes them to fall. 20My child, listen carefully to my teaching and to everything that I tell you.

Proverbs 4:18 word by word

וְאֹ֣רַח צַ֭דִּיקִים כְּא֣וֹר נֹ֑גַהּ הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָ֝א֗וֹר עַד־נְכ֥וֹן הַיּֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the pathאֹ֫רַח'ôrach · wayH734
• of the justצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• as the shiningנֹ֫גַהּnôgahh · brightnessH5051
• lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• that shinethאוֹר'ôr · to lightH215
• moreהָלַךְhâlak · to go: continueH1980
• and more unto the perfectכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
• dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for Proverbs 4:18

• 2 Samuel 23:4A king who rules like that is like the light of the sun at dawn. He is like the sky when it has no clouds in it in the morning. He is like bright sun after rain, that helps the grass to grow strongly.”
• Job 11:17You will have a happy life that is brighter than the sun at noon. Even if trouble makes it dark, it will still seem like a bright morning.
• Job 23:10But he knows the way that I live. When he has finished testing me, he will see that I am pure. I will be as pure as gold.
• Psalms 84:7The people become stronger as they travel, until each one meets with God in Zion.
• Hosea 6:3We should respect the Lord's authority. We must try to know him better. Then he will certainly come to rescue us. He will come to us as surely as the sun appears each morning. He will help us as surely as the rain comes in spring and it makes the ground wet for plants to grow.’
• Zechariah 14:6On that day, it will not be light in some places and dark in other places.
• Matthew 5:14You are like a light for everybody in this world. If people build a city on a hill, then other people can see it easily.
• John 8:12Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Those people who become my disciples will never walk in the dark. No, they will have the light that gives life.’
• 2 Corinthians 3:18We show the power of the Lord to other people. It is like God has removed a cloth from over our faces. He is changing us so that we become more and more like him. We show how great God is more and more clearly. It is the Lord who does all this, by the work of his Spirit.
• Philippians 2:15Then you will not be guilty of anything that is wrong. You will be clean inside yourselves. You will be living in a completely good way, as God's children should. In this world, you are living among bad people who have turned away from what is good. But you must bring light into this dark place, like stars that shine in the night.
• 2 Peter 1:19As well as that, we have the prophets' messages from long ago. They also show us very clearly that these things are true. The prophets' words are like a light that shines in a dark place. That light continues to shine in the dark until the dawn comes. So you need to think about those messages carefully. Then the morning star will rise and it will bring light deep inside you.
• 2 Peter 3:18Instead, you must grow as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, who saves us. Continue to know him better and better. He will be kind to you and he will help you more and more. We praise him as he deserves! He is great now and he will be great for ever!
• Revelation 21:23Also, the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. God's bright glory gives light to the city. The Lamb is the lamp that gives it light.
• Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, so nobody will need a lamp to make light. They will not need light from the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings for ever.

Commentaries on Proverbs 4:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18But the path of the just - The path of the wicked is gloomy, dark, and dangerous; that of the righteous is open, luminous, and instructive. This verse contains a fine metaphor; it refers to the sun rising above the horizon, and the increasing twilight, till his beams shine full upon the earth. The original, היום נכון עד ואור הולך holech vaor ad nechon haiyom, may be translated, "going and illuminating unto the prepared day." This seems plainly to refer to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4-20Verses 4-20 The counsel which has come to him, in substance, from his father. Compare it with 2 Samuel 23:2 etc.; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 4:7 Or, “The beginning of wisdom is - get wisdom.” To seek is to find, to desire is to obtain. Proverbs 4:12 The ever-recurring parable of the journey of life. In the way of wisdom the path is clear and open, obstacles disappear; in the quickest activity (“when thou…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-27Verses 14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19Light symbolizes wisdom and righteousness, while darkness represents foolishness and wickedness (see Ecclesiastes 2:12–14). Light reveals actions; darkness conceals them. Righteous people have nothing to hide, but the wicked try to hide their actions and stumble over obstacles in the dark (see Matthew 4:16; 5:14–16; John 1:14; Romans 2:19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. As shining light increases from twilight to noonday splendor, so the course of the just increases in purity, but that of the wicked is as thickest darkness, in which one knows not on what he stumbles.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 4:18

• Day
• Grace of God
• Perseverance
• Righteous
• Wisdom
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Diligence
• Getting
• Hold
• Look
• Ponder
• Principal
• Promote
• Right
• Stumble
• Hezekiah (2)

Commentaries on Proverbs 4

• 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