The Meaning of Proverbs 1:19 Explained

Proverbs 1:19

KJV: So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

YLT: So are the paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, The life of its owners it taketh.

Darby: So are the paths of every one that is greedy of gain: it taketh away the life of its possessors.

ASV: So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So [are] the ways  of every one that is greedy  of gain;  [which] taketh away  the life  of the owners  thereof. 

What does Proverbs 1:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 1:1-19 - "the Beginning Of Knowledge"
Notice the perfect balance of each clause, and the duplication of the one thought in the two clauses of each verse.
Wisdom as used in this book is more than intellectual learning or cleverness. It represents a moral quality, the result of a pure and a true life. We are conscious that many simple-minded people, who have little enough book-learning, are remarkable for sagacious advice, insight into character, the wise reading of events, an intuitive knowledge-all based on the fear of God. The headlines of Scotch copy-books used to be taken from this book. Certain it is that the young who ponder and practice these maxims can hardly fail of a successful career. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 1

1  The use of the proverbs
7  An exhortation to fear God, and believe his word
10  to avoid the enticing of sinners
20  Wisdom complains of her contempt
24  She threatens her contemners

What do the individual words in Proverbs 1:19 mean?

So [are] the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain - the life of its owners it takes away -
כֵּ֗ן אָ֭רְחוֹת כָּל־ בֹּ֣צֵֽעַ בָּ֑צַע אֶת־ נֶ֖פֶשׁ בְּעָלָ֣יו יִקָּֽח פ

כֵּ֗ן  So 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אָ֭רְחוֹת  [are]  the  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
כָּל־  of  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בֹּ֣צֵֽעַ  who  is  greedy  for 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּצַע  
Sense: to cut off, break off, gain by unrighteous violence, get, finish, be covetous, be greedy.
בָּ֑צַע  gain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּצַע  
Sense: profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נֶ֖פֶשׁ  the  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
בְּעָלָ֣יו  of  its  owners 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּעַל 
Sense: owner, husband, lord.
יִקָּֽח  it  takes  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation