Proverbs 1:11

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

If they say {H559}, Come {H3212} with us, let us lay wait {H693} for blood {H1818}, let us lurk {H6845} privily for the innocent {H5355} without cause {H2600}:

Suppose they say, "Come with us: we'll ambush somebody and kill him, we'll waylay some harmless soul, just for fun;

If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

Proverbs 1:11 serves as a stark warning from a father to his son, illustrating the insidious nature of temptation from those who plot evil. It vividly describes the deceptive invitation and the malevolent intent of sinners who seek to harm the blameless.

Context

The book of Proverbs begins with an introduction to its primary purpose: to impart wisdom, instruction, and understanding, especially to the young and inexperienced. Proverbs 1:8-19 forms the first major warning, cautioning against the enticement of sinners. This specific verse, Proverbs 1:11, details the specific, violent proposition made by those who would lead the naive astray. It highlights the calculated and unprovoked nature of their intended acts, emphasizing the immediate danger of choosing the wrong companions.

Key Themes

  • Temptation and Peer Pressure: The phrase "Come with us" powerfully depicts the alluring yet dangerous appeal of evil associations. This verse underscores the importance of discernment in choosing companions and resisting the urge to conform to wicked schemes.
  • The Nature of Evil: Describing the intent to "lay wait for blood" and "lurk privily for the innocent without cause" reveals the malicious, premeditated, and senseless cruelty inherent in sin. It highlights that evil often targets the vulnerable and is executed with deceit and without just provocation.
  • Consequences of Association: The broader context of Proverbs consistently teaches that one's companions significantly influence one's character and destiny. Joining such a group inevitably leads to destruction, as the following verses in this chapter elaborate, culminating in the warning of Proverbs 1:19.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "lay wait for blood" utilizes 'adam (דם), meaning "blood," which is often a metonym for life itself. Thus, "laying wait for blood" means plotting to take life or commit murder. To "lurk privily" translates from tsaphan (צפן), conveying the idea of hiding or concealing, emphasizing the secretive and deceptive nature of their intentions. The word "innocent" (naqi, נקי) denotes blamelessness or purity, accentuating the utter injustice and moral depravity of targeting those who have done no wrong.

Related Scriptures

This verse is a direct continuation of the warning initiated in Proverbs 1:10, where the father urges his son not to consent to sinners. The broader theme of avoiding evil paths is echoed throughout wisdom literature, notably in Proverbs 4:14-15, which advises against entering the path of the wicked. This caution against evil company also resonates with the opening of Psalm 1:1, which blesses the one who "walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."

Practical Application

Proverbs 1:11 remains highly relevant today, urging individuals to exercise discernment in choosing friends and associates. It serves as a powerful reminder to:

  • Be wary of persuasive invitations: Not all invitations or opportunities are beneficial. Some may lead to actions that cause harm to others or oneself, even if they appear enticing.
  • Guard against peer pressure: The desire to belong can be a powerful motivator, but true wisdom involves resisting calls to engage in destructive, unethical, or violent behavior.
  • Protect the innocent: The verse calls attention to the vulnerability of the innocent and implicitly challenges us to stand against injustice and senseless violence in all its forms.
  • Choose wisdom over folly: This verse is a stark illustration of the foolishness that rejects the path of righteousness, ultimately leading to self-destruction and moral decay.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 1:18

    And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives.

  • Jeremiah 5:26

    For among my people are found wicked [men]: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

  • Proverbs 12:6

    ¶ The words of the wicked [are] to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

  • Jeremiah 18:18

    ¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

  • Jeremiah 18:20

    Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, [and] to turn away thy wrath from them.

  • Proverbs 1:16

    For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

  • Psalms 64:5

    They encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

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