The Meaning of Proverbs 21:4 Explained

Proverbs 21:4

KJV: An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

YLT: Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked is sin.

Darby: Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

ASV: A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An high  look,  and a proud  heart,  [and] the plowing  of the wicked,  [is] sin. 

What does Proverbs 21:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The "lamp" of the wicked seems to be their life (cf. Proverbs 13:9 b) or, more particularly, their conscience (cf. Proverbs 20:27). If this is Song of Solomon , the verse is saying that arrogance and pride are the sum and substance of the life of the wicked, and that these are sin.

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

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

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:4 mean?

Haughty a look and proud a heart [And] the plowing of the wicked [are] sin
רוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת

רוּם־  Haughty 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
עֵ֭ינַיִם  a  look 
Parse: Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וּרְחַב־  and  proud 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: רָחָב  
Sense: broad, wide.
לֵ֑ב  a  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
נִ֖ר  [And]  the  plowing 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נִיר  
Sense: tillable or untilled or fallow ground.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
חַטָּֽאת  [are]  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.