The Meaning of Proverbs 24:16 Explained

Proverbs 24:16

KJV: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

YLT: For seven times doth the righteous fall and rise, And the wicked stumble in evil.

Darby: For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.

ASV: For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For a just  [man] falleth  seven times,  and riseth up again:  but the wicked  shall fall  into mischief. 

What does Proverbs 24:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 24

1  Precepts and Warnings

What do the individual words in Proverbs 24:16 mean?

for seven times may fall a righteous [man] and rise again but the wicked shall fall by calamity
כִּ֤י שֶׁ֨בַע ׀ יִפּ֣וֹל צַדִּ֣יק וָקָ֑ם וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ בְרָעָֽה

שֶׁ֨בַע ׀  seven  times 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
יִפּ֣וֹל  may  fall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
צַדִּ֣יק  a  righteous  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
וָקָ֑ם  and  rise  again 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים  but  the  wicked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
יִכָּשְׁל֥וּ  shall  fall 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
בְרָעָֽה  by  calamity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.