The Meaning of Proverbs 2:14 Explained

Proverbs 2:14

KJV: Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

YLT: Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked,

Darby: who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of evil;

ASV: Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who rejoice  to do  evil,  [and] delight  in the frowardness  of the wicked; 

What does Proverbs 2:14 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 2:18-2074; Proverbs 2:15; 1710817131_3. 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 2:14 mean?

who rejoice in doing evil [And] delight in the perversity of the wicked
הַ֭שְּׂמֵחִים לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת רָ֑ע יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ בְּֽתַהְפֻּכ֥וֹת רָֽע

הַ֭שְּׂמֵחִים  who  rejoice 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: שָׂמֵחַ  
Sense: joyful, merry, glad.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת  in  doing 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
רָ֑ע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
יָ֝גִ֗ילוּ  [And]  delight 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
בְּֽתַהְפֻּכ֥וֹת  in  the  perversity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תַּהְפֻּכֹות  
Sense: perversity, perverse thing.
רָֽע  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.