The Meaning of Proverbs 21:16 Explained

Proverbs 21:16

KJV: The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

YLT: A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.

Darby: The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.

ASV: The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The man  that wandereth  out of the way  of understanding  shall remain  in the congregation  of the dead. 

What does Proverbs 21:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:16 mean?

A man who wanders from the way of understanding in the assembly of the dead will rest
אָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ

אָדָ֗ם  A  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
תּ֭וֹעֶה  who  wanders 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: תָּעָה  
Sense: to err, wander, go astray, stagger.
מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ  from  the  way 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל  of  understanding 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
בִּקְהַ֖ל  in  the  assembly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
רְפָאִ֣ים  of  the  dead 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: רְפָאִים  
Sense: ghosts of the dead, shades, spirits.
יָנֽוּחַ  will  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּחַ 
Sense: to rest.