Proverbs 21:18

Proverbs 21:18 in other versions

• New International Version (NIV)The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest.

Context of Proverbs 21:18

16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Proverbs 21:18 word by word

כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃Read the interlinear

• The wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• a ransomכֹּפֶרkôpher · ransomH3724
• for the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• and the transgressorבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898
• for the uprightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:18

• Proverbs 11:8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
• Isaiah 43:3For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
• Isaiah 53:4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
• Isaiah 55:8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Commentaries on Proverbs 21:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous - God often in his judgments cuts off the wicked, in order to prevent them from destroying the righteous. And in general, we find that the wicked fall into the traps and pits they have digged for the righteous.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Compare the marginal reference. Evil doers seem to draw down the wrath of God upon their heads, and so become, as it were, the scapegoats of the comparatively righteous.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 The righteous is often delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead, and so seems as a ransom for him.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The wicked will get caught in the traps they set for others (Proverbs 26:27; see also 11:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Compare Pr 11:8). By suffering what they had devised for the righteous, or brought on them, the wicked became their ransom, in the usual sense of substitutes (compare Jos 7:26; Es 7:9).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 21:18

• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

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

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