Bible Strands
Proverbs 12:28
There is life in the path of righteousness, but another path leads to death.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text presents Solomon’s instruction to his students, positioned immediately after a comparison between lazy and diligent men in the preceding verse.
The words — The Hebrew terms צְדָקָ֥ה (tze.da.Kah) and מָֽוֶת (Ma.vet) literally mean righteousness and death, establishing the verse’s central opposition.
The thread — The link between righteous conduct and life, versus sin and death, runs through Romans 5:21, which contrasts sin’s reign in death with grace reigning through righteousness, and Ezekiel 18:20, which declares the soul who sins is the one who will die.
Why it lands — The text states that choosing the way of righteousness yields life while any other direction leads to death, demanding a deliberate selection of conduct rather than passive belief.
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
King James Version
In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Cross-references
- 3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
- Romans 5:21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
- Proverbs 11:19 Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
- Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.
- Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster.
- Proverbs 8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
- Proverbs 10:16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.
- Ezekiel 18:9 He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.
- 1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.