The Meaning of Proverbs 2:13 Explained

Proverbs 2:13

KJV: Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

YLT: Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,

Darby: from those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

ASV: Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who leave  the paths  of uprightness,  to walk  in the ways  of darkness; 

What does Proverbs 2:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 2:1-22 - Wisdom Guards From Evil
Several words are reiterated in this chapter, which will unlock its treasures. Understanding, Proverbs 2:2-3; Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 2:11. If wisdom is a moral quality, leading to intuitive knowledge, understanding may be taken to include something of a prophetic strain. Understanding gathers up and makes use of the results of observation and experience, whether of oneself or of others.
Notice also the word walk, Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 2:13; way, Proverbs 2:8; Proverbs 2:12-13; Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 2:20; paths, Proverbs 2:8; Proverbs 2:13; Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 2:18-20. See how eager the Divine Teacher is (l) to deliver the unwary from the way of the evil man, Proverbs 2:12, and from the way of the evil woman, Proverbs 2:16; and (2) to direct the feet of the young into the ways of the good and into the paths of the righteous, Proverbs 2:20. The path of safety and permanence is that in which we are perpetually conscious of the presence of the Master, Christ. He is the unseen companion of the soul in its difficult and perilous pilgrimage; and we may, in that companionship, appropriate the buckler of Proverbs 2:7, the integrity of Proverbs 2:8, and the stability of Proverbs 2:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 2

1  wisdom promises godliness to her children
10  and safety from evil company
20  and direction in good ways

What do the individual words in Proverbs 2:13 mean?

from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness
הַ֭עֹ֣זְבִים אָרְח֣וֹת יֹ֑שֶׁר לָ֝לֶ֗כֶת בְּדַרְכֵי־ חֹֽשֶׁךְ

הַ֭עֹ֣זְבִים  from  those  who  leave 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
אָרְח֣וֹת  the  paths 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
יֹ֑שֶׁר  of  uprightness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄשֶׁר  
Sense: straightness, uprightness.
לָ֝לֶ֗כֶת  to  walk 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּדַרְכֵי־  in  the  ways 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common plural construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
חֹֽשֶׁךְ  of  darkness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁךְ  
Sense: darkness, obscurity.