The Meaning of Proverbs 26:2 Explained

Proverbs 26:2

KJV: As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

YLT: As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.

Darby: As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.

ASV: As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As the bird  by wandering,  as the swallow  by flying,  so the curse  causeless  shall not come. 

What does Proverbs 26:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If someone curses another person who does not deserve it, the curse will not be effective (cf. Numbers 23:8). It will not attach itself to the person cursed, so to speak.
"It was commonly believed that blessings and curses had objective existence-that once uttered, the word was effectual. Scriptures make it clear that the power of a blessing or a curse depends on the power of the one behind it (e.g, Balaam could not curse what God had blessed; cf. Numbers 22:38; Numbers 23:8). This proverb underscores the correction of superstition. The Word of the Lord is powerful because it is the word of the Lord-he will fulfill it." [1]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 26

1  observations about fools
13  about sluggards
17  and about contentious busybodies

What do the individual words in Proverbs 26:2 mean?

Like a sparrow flitting like a swallow flying so a curse without cause - not shall alight
כַּצִּפּ֣וֹר לָ֭נוּד כַּדְּר֣וֹר לָע֑וּף כֵּ֥ן קִֽלְלַ֥ת חִ֝נָּ֗ם [לא] (ל֣וֹ) תָבֹֽא

כַּצִּפּ֣וֹר  Like  a  sparrow 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צִפֹּור  
Sense: bird, fowl.
לָ֭נוּד  flitting 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נוּד  
Sense: to shake, waver, wander, move to and fro, flutter, show grief, have compassion on.
כַּדְּר֣וֹר  like  a  swallow 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דְּרֹור  
Sense: a swallow, bird.
לָע֑וּף  flying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עוּף 
Sense: to fly, fly about, fly away.
כֵּ֥ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
קִֽלְלַ֥ת  a  curse 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קְלָלָה  
Sense: curse, vilification, execration.
חִ֝נָּ֗ם  without  cause 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
[לא]  - 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
תָבֹֽא  shall  alight 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.