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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

Context of Proverbs 4:18

16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

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 light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’
• Job 11:17Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
• Job 23:10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
• Psalms 84:7They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
• Hosea 6:3Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
• Zechariah 14:6On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness.
• Matthew 5:14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
• John 8:12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
• 2 Corinthians 3:18And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
• Philippians 2:15so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
• 2 Peter 1:19We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
• 2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
• Revelation 21:23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
• Revelation 22:5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever 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