Proverbs 26:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow, an undeserved curse will come home to roost.

Berean Standard Bible:

Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

American Standard Version:

As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

As the bird^{H6833} by wandering^{H5110}, as the swallow^{H1866} by flying^{H5774}, so the curse^{H7045} causeless^{H2600} shall not come^{H935}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Proverbs 26:2

Proverbs 26:2 is a part of the wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible, specifically found in the book of Proverbs, which is a collection of sayings and instructions traditionally attributed to King Solomon. The book is known for its pithy statements that reflect on various aspects of life, offering guidance on ethical behavior, wisdom, and the nature of folly and righteousness.

The verse itself uses a nature-based metaphor to convey a moral truth. It compares the wandering of a bird and the flight of a swallow to the concept of a "curse causeless." The imagery suggests that just as birds do not wander or fly without purpose, a curse—a solemn utterance of harm or misfortune—cannot manifest without a substantive reason or cause. In other words, the verse reflects the belief that there are moral laws at work in the universe, and negative consequences (symbolized by the curse) do not occur arbitrarily or without justification.

Historically, the idea of a curse was taken very seriously in the ancient Near East. Curses were considered to have real power, and they were often invoked in covenants and treaties as a means of enforcing agreements. Proverbs 26:2, therefore, serves as a reassurance to those who might fear random misfortune or the effects of unfounded malevolence. It asserts that just as natural laws govern the movement of birds, there is a moral order that prevents baseless curses from taking effect. This verse encourages confidence in a just world where wrongful condemnation or malicious intent does not have the power to bring about undeserved ruin.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6833
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צִפּוֹר
   Transliteration: tsippôwr
   Pronunciation: tsip-pore'
   Description: or צִפֹּר; from צָפַר; a little bird (as hopping); bird, fowl, sparrow.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5110
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נוּד
   Transliteration: nûwd
   Pronunciation: nood
   Description: a primitive root; to nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn) taunt; bemoan, flee, get, mourn, make to move, take pity, remove, shake, skip for joy, be sorry, vagabond, way, wandering.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1866
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דְּרוֹר
   Transliteration: dᵉrôwr
   Pronunciation: der-ore'
   Description: the same as דְּרוֹר, applied to a bird; the swift, a kind of swallow; swallow.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5774
   There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוּף
   Transliteration: ʻûwph
   Pronunciation: oof
   Description: a primitive root; to cover (with wings or obscurity); hence (as denominative from עוֹף); to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning); brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away), [idiom] set, shine forth, weary.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7045
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קְלָלָה
   Transliteration: qᵉlâlâh
   Pronunciation: kel-aw-law'
   Description: from קָלַל; vilification; (ac-) curse(-d, -ing).
   
6. Strong's Number: H2600
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חִנָּם
   Transliteration: chinnâm
   Pronunciation: khin-nawm'
   Description: from חֵן; gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage; without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain.
   
7. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.