Bible Strands
Proverbs 22:25
or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The wisdom author addresses a student in a didactic sequence, placing this warning between the prohibition against associating with a hot-tempered man and the caution against giving financial pledges. The moment occurs during a series of practical admonitions about avoiding destructive personal entanglements.
The words — The text employs תֶּאֱלַ֥ף (teʾelaf), literally "you should learn," and מוֹקֵ֣שׁ (moqesh), literally "a snare." These terms describe the mechanism of the danger: adopting the angry man's patterns and becoming trapped by them.
The thread — The warning aligns with the textual observation in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that bad company corrupts good character and Psalm 106:35, which records how mingling with nations led to adopted customs. It directly parallels Proverbs 13:20, which contrasts the fate of those who walk with the wise against those who companion fools.
Why it lands — The text commands immediate non-association to prevent internalizing the angry person's conduct. It requires the reader to act on the plain observation that proximity to destructive patterns produces entrapment.
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
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- Psalms 106:35 but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
- Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.