God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 21:16
16A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 21:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
- English Standard Version (ESV)One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Context of Proverbs 21:16
14A gift ⌞given⌟ in secret calms anger, and a secret bribe calms great fury. 15When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted, but troublemakers are terrified. A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17Whoever loves pleasure will become poor. Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich. 18Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people, and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:16 word by word
אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:16
- Proverbs 13:20Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer.
- Psalms 125:5But when people become crooked, the Lord will lead them away with troublemakers. Let there be peace in Israel!
- Zephaniah 1:6I will remove those who have turned away from following the Lord and those who no longer seek the Lord or ask him for help.”
- John 3:19This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil.
- Hebrews 6:4Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 10:26If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins.
- 2 Peter 2:21It would have been better for them never to have known the way of life that God approves of than to know it and turn their backs on the holy life God told them to live.
- 1 John 2:19They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us. But by leaving they made it clear that none of them were part of us.
- Proverbs 2:18Her house sinks down to death. Her ways lead to the souls of the dead.
- Proverbs 7:26because she has brought down many victims, and she has killed all too many.
- Proverbs 9:18But he does not know that the souls of the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.
- Ephesians 2:1You were once dead because of your failures and sins.
- Jude 1:12These people are a disgrace at the special meals you share with other believers. They eat with you and don’t feel ashamed. They are shepherds who care ⌞only⌟ for themselves. They are dry clouds blown around by the winds. They are withered, uprooted trees without any fruit. As a result, they have died twice.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The man once enlightened, that wandereth out of the way of understanding, in which he had walked, shall remain - have a permanent residence - in the congregation of the dead; רפאים rephaim, the lost; either separate spirits in general, or rather the assembly of separate spirits, which had fallen from primitive rectitude; and shall not be restored to the Divine favor; particularly those sinners who were destroyed by the deluge. This passage intimates that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16congregation of the dead - The Rephaim (compare the Proverbs 2:18 note). Remain - i. e., “He shall find a resting place, but it shall be in Hades.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 Of all wanderers in the ways of sin, those are in the most dangerous condition who turn aside into the ways of darkness. Yet there is hope even for them in the all-sufficient Saviour; but let them flee to him without delay.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16People with common sense can avoid life's dangers.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. the way of understanding--(Compare Pr 12:26; 14:22). remain--that is, rest as at a journey's end; death will be his unchanging home.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:16
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries