Bible Strands
Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The father addresses his son in a wisdom discourse, immediately following the command to make a level path for the feet. The words — `tet-` (you turn aside) and `me./Ra'` (from evil) anchor the directive to avoid deviation and reject corrupting influences. The thread — The warning against turning aside to the right or left appears in Deuteronomy 5:32, Joshua 1:7, and Deuteronomy 28:14 as a covenant obedience standard. Why it lands — The text demands strict directional discipline in daily conduct, requiring the reader to actively divert their steps from evil rather than maintain a neutral stance.
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
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 5:32 So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.
- Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
- Deuteronomy 28:14 Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today, and do not go after other gods to serve them.
- Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
- Deuteronomy 12:32 See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
- Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.