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 cannot sleep unless they do wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they make someone stumble. 17They eat food obtained through wrongdoing and drink wine obtained through violence. But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday. 19The way of wicked people is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. 20My son, pay attention to my words. Open your ears to what I say.

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 23:4He is like the morning light as the sun rises, like a morning without clouds, like the brightness after a rainstorm. The rain makes the grass grow from the earth.’
• Job 11:17Then your life will be brighter than the noonday sun. The darkness in your life will become like morning.
• Job 23:10⌞I can’t find him⌟ because he knows the road I take. When he tests me, I’ll come out as pure as gold.
• Psalms 84:7Their strength grows as they go along until each one of them appears in front of God in Zion.
• Hosea 6:3Let’s learn about the Lord. Let’s get to know the Lord. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground.
• Zechariah 14:6On that day there will be neither heat nor freezing cold.
• Matthew 5:14“You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.
• John 8:12Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”
• 2 Corinthians 3:18As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
• Philippians 2:15Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God’s children without any faults among people who are crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world
• 2 Peter 1:19So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You’re doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts.
• 2 Peter 3:18But grow in the good will and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to him now and for that eternal day! Amen.
• Revelation 21:23The city doesn’t need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light. The lamb was its lamp.
• Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings forever and 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