The Meaning of Proverbs 4:12 Explained

Proverbs 4:12

KJV: When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

YLT: In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.

Darby: When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

ASV: When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When thou goest,  thy steps  shall not be straitened;  and when thou runnest,  thou shalt not stumble. 

What does Proverbs 4:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 4:10-27 - Guide-Posts On The Way Of Life
One or two sentences stand out in this section, demanding special attention. The path of the just, etc., Proverbs 4:18. We may compare this beautiful similitude with 2 Samuel 23:4. In the East, where the heavens are for the most part free of cloud, the steadily increasing light of any day to perfect noontide glory is the ordinary experience. Let us so live that the path of our life may become ever more radiant and beneficent in its heat and light.
Keep thy heart, etc., Proverbs 4:23. "Above all keeping," margin. The gates of the heart need careful scrutiny. When we are careless, thoughts creep in with malign intent. We should imitate the good Nehemiah 13:19. Ask that pure and holy angels may stand sentry as at the gates of pearl, Revelation 21:12. If you think right, you will live right.
Ponder the path, etc., Proverbs 4:26. "Weigh carefully." Act in haste and repent at leisure! Ask God to keep you back from presumptuous sins; and bear in mind the wise exhortation of Ecclesiastes 5:2. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 4

1  persuades to wisdom
14  and to show wickedness
20  He exhorts to sanctification

What do the individual words in Proverbs 4:12 mean?

When you walk not will be hindered your steps and when you run not you will stumble
בְּֽ֭לֶכְתְּךָ לֹא־ יֵצַ֣ר צַעֲדֶ֑ךָ וְאִם־ תָּ֝ר֗וּץ לֹ֣א תִכָּשֵֽׁל

בְּֽ֭לֶכְתְּךָ  When  you  walk 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
יֵצַ֣ר  will  be  hindered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָרַר  
Sense: to bind, be distressed, be in distress, be cramped, be narrow, be scant, be in straits, make narrow, cause distress, beseige.
צַעֲדֶ֑ךָ  your  steps 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צַעַד  
Sense: step, pace, stride.
וְאִם־  and  when 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תָּ֝ר֗וּץ  you  run 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
תִכָּשֵֽׁל  you  will  stumble 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.