Bible Strands
Proverbs 2:13
from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses a learner in a protective warning, positioning verse 13 as a specific threat from which divine deliverance is required.
The words — The Hebrew הַעֹזְבִים (ha‘ozvim) identifies those who actively abandon, while יֹשֶׁר (yosher) and חֹשֶׁךְ (choshek) establish a direct lexical contrast between the straight path of uprightness and the ways of darkness.
The thread — The light versus darkness contrast appears in John 3:19, where people prefer darkness to the coming Light, while Proverbs 4:19 describes the wicked’s present condition as unrelenting gloom and Proverbs 21:16 warns that straying from understanding leads to death.
Why it lands — The text demands a practical evaluation of companionship, requiring the reader to recognize and sever ties with those who normalize moral departure.
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
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Cross-references
- John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- Proverbs 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
- Proverbs 21:16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
- 2 Peter 2:20 If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.
- 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
- Psalms 14:3 All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
- Psalms 36:3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.
- Psalms 82:5 They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
- Ezekiel 18:26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.
- Ezekiel 33:12 Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’