Proverbs 27:8

Proverbs 27:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
• New International Version (NIV)Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.

Context of Proverbs 27:8

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive. 7The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet. Like a bird that wanders from its nest, so is a person who wanders from his home. 9Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel. 10Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster; a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.

Proverbs 27:8 word by word

כְּ֭צִפּוֹר נוֹדֶ֣דֶת מִן־קִנָּ֑הּ כֵּֽן־אִ֝֗ישׁ נוֹדֵ֥ד מִמְּקוֹמֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• As a birdצִפּוֹרtsippôr tsippôr · birdH6833
• that wanderethנָדַדnâdad · to wanderH5074
• from her nestקֵןqên · nestH7064
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• from his placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725

Cross-references for Proverbs 27:8

• Job 39:14For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and lets them be warmed on the soil.
• Isaiah 16:2At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.
• Proverbs 21:16The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed.
• Genesis 14:16He retrieved all the stolen property. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the rest of the people.
• Genesis 16:6Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.
• 1 Samuel 22:5Then Gad the prophet said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
• 1 Samuel 27:1David thought to himself, “One of these days I’m going to be swept away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.”
• 1 Kings 19:9He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?”
• Nehemiah 6:11But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? I will not go!”
• Jonah 1:3Instead, Jonah immediately headed off to Tarshish to escape from the commission of the Lord. He traveled to Joppa and found a merchant ship heading to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard it to go with them to Tarshish far away from the Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 7:20Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called.
• Jude 1:13wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.

Commentaries on Proverbs 27:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Is a bird that wandereth from her nest - Leaving her own brood, places of retreat, and feeding-ground behind, and going into strange countries, where she is exposed to every kind of danger. So is the man who leaves his family connections and country, and goes into strange parts to find employment, better his circumstances, make a fortune, etc. I have seen multitudes of such wanderers from their place come to great misery and wretchedness. God's general…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Change of place is thought of as in itself an evil. It is not easy for the man to find another home or the bird another nest. The maxim is characteristic of the earlier stages of Hebrew history, before exile and travel had made change of country a more familiar thing. Compare the feeling which made the thought of being “a fugitive and a vagabond” Genesis 4:12-13 the most terrible of all punishments.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8Verse 8 Every man has his proper place in society, where he may be safe and comfortable.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8A person who leaves his family and home is more likely to find trouble than what he was looking for (for example, Luke 15:11–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Such are not only out of place, but out of duty and in danger.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 27:8

• Character
• Instability
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Answer
• Boast
• Bray
• Contentious
• Look
• Soul
• Wrath
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 27

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings