Proverbs 1:16

For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The father addresses his son immediately after commanding him not to walk on the path of violent men. This statement explains the inherent nature of those men as the reason for the warning.

The words — The Hebrew יָר֑וּצוּ (ya.Ru.tzu) literally means "they run," paired with וִֽ֝/ימַהֲר֗וּ (vi./ma.ha.Ru), meaning "they make haste," describing urgent, uncontrolled movement toward wrongdoing.

The thread — This imagery appears in Isaiah 59:7, which specifies "innocent" blood, and recurs in Proverbs 4:16 and Proverbs 6:18 to describe the relentless, sleepless drive of the wicked toward harm.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to recognize that the danger of these men is character-driven rather than circumstantial, demanding immediate separation rather than negotiation or curiosity.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkifor רַ֭גְלֵיהֶםRag.lei./hemfeet/ their לָרַ֣עla./Ra'to <the>/ evil יָר֑וּצוּya.Ru.tzuthey run וִֽ֝ימַהֲר֗וּvi./ma.ha.Ruand/ they may make haste לִשְׁפָּךְ־li/sh.pokh-to/ shed דָּֽם׃Damblood

King James Version

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Cross-references

Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
Proverbs 6:18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
Proverbs 4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.