TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Proverbs 2:10–22. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The scope of these verses is to show, 1. What great advantage true wisdom will be of to us; it will keep us from the paths of sin, which lead to ruin, and will therein do us a greater kindness than if it enriched us with all the wealth of the world. 2. What good use we should make of the wisdom God gives us; we must use it for our own guidance in the paths of virtue, and for the arming of us against temptations of every kind. 3. By what rules we may try ourselves whether we have this wisdom or no. This tree will be known by its fruits; if we be truly wise, it will appear by our care to avoid all evil company and evil practices.
This wisdom will be of use to us,
I.For our preservation from evil, from the evil of sin, and, consequently, from the evil of trouble that attends it.
1.In general (Pro 2:10, Pro 2:11), "When wisdom has entire possession of thee, it will keep thee." And when has it an entire possession of us?
(1.)When it has dominion over us. When it not only fills the head with notions, but enters into the heart and has a commanding power and influence upon that, - when it is upon the throne there, and gives law to the affections and passions, - when it enters into the heart as the leaven into the dough, to diffuse its relish there, and to change it into its own image - then it is likely to do us good.
(2.)When we have delight in it, when knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul: "When thou beginnest to relish it as the most agreeable entertainment, and art subject to its rules, of choice, and with satisfaction, - when thou callest the practice of virtue, not a slavery and a task, but liberty and pleasure, and a life of serious godliness the most comfortable life a man can live in this world, - then thou wilt find the benefit of it." Though its restraints should be in some respects unpleasant to the body, yet even those must be pleasant to the soul. When it has come to this, with us, discretion shall preserve us and keep us. God keeps the way of his saints (Pro 2:8), by giving them discretion to keep out of harm's way, to keep themselves that the wicked one touch them not. Note, A principle of grace reigning in the heart will be a powerful preservative both against corruptions within and temptations without, Ecc 9:16, Ecc 9:18.
2.More particularly, wisdom will preserve us,
(1.)From men of corrupt principles, atheistical profane men, who make it their business to debauch young men's judgments, and instil into their minds prejudices against religion and arguments for vice: "It will deliver thee from the way of the evil man (Pro 2:12), and a blessed deliverance it will be, as from the very jaws of death, from the way in which he walks, and in which he would persuade thee to walk." The enemy is spoken of as one (Pro 2:12), an evil man, but afterwards as many (Pro 2:13); there is a club, a gang of them, that are in confederacy against religion, and join hand in hand for the support of the devil's kingdom and the interests of it.
[1.]They have a spirit of contradiction to that which is good: They speak froward things; they say all they can against religion, both to show their own enmity to it and to dissuade others from it. They are advocates for Satan; they plead for Baal, and pervert the right ways of the Lord. How peevishly will profane wits argue for sin, and with what frowardness will they carp at the word of God! Wisdom will keep us either from conversing with such men or at least from being ensnared by them.
[2.]They are themselves apostates from that which is good, and such are commonly the most malicious and dangerous enemies religion has, witness Julian (Pro 2:13): They leave the paths of uprightness, which they were trained up in and had set out in, shake off the influences of their education, and break off the thread of their hopeful beginnings, to walk in the ways of darkness, in those wicked ways which hate the light, in which men are led blindfold by ignorance and error, and which lead men into utter darkness. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe; what fools are those that leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in those ways! Psa 82:5; Jo1 2:11.
[3.]They take a pleasure in sin, both in committing it themselves and in seeing others commit it (Pro 2:14): They rejoice in an opportunity to do evil, and in the accomplishment and success of any wicked project. It is sport to fools to do mischief; nor is any sight more grateful to them than to see the frowardness of the wicked, to see those that are hopeful drawn into the ways of sin, and then to see them hardened and confirmed in those ways. They are pleased if they can discern that the devil's kingdom gets ground (see Rom 1:32), such a height of impiety have they arrived at.
[4.]They are resolute in sin (Pro 2:15): Their ways are crooked, a great many windings and turnings to escape the pursuit of their convictions and break the force of them; some sly excuse, some subtle evasion or other, their deceitful hearts furnish them with, for the strengthening of their hands in their wickedness; and in the crooked mazes of that labyrinth they secure themselves from the arrests of God's word and their own consciences; for they are froward in their paths, that is, they are resolved to go on in them, whatever is said against it. Every wise man will shun the company of such as these.
(2.)From women of corrupt practices. The former lead to spiritual wickednesses, the lusts of the unsanctified mind; these lead to fleshly lusts, which defile the body, that living temple, but withal war against the soul. The adulteress is here called the strange woman, because no man that has any wisdom or goodness in him will have any acquaintance with her; she is to be shunned by every Israelite as if she were a heathen, and a stranger to that sacred commonwealth. A strange woman indeed! utterly estranged from all principles of reason, virtue, and honour. It is a great mercy to be delivered from the allurements of the adulteress, considering,
[1.]How false she is. Who will have any dealings with those that are made up of treachery? She is a strange woman; for, First, She is false to him whom she entices. She speaks fair, tells him how much she admires him above any man, and what a kindness she has for him; but she flatters with her words; she has no true affection for him, nor any desire of his welfare, any more than Delilah had of Samson's. All she designs is to pick his pocket and gratify a base lust of her own. Secondly, She is false to her husband, and violates the sacred obligation she lies under to him. He was the guide of her youth; by marrying him she chose him to be so, and submitted herself to his guidance, with a promise to attend him only, and forsake all others. But she has forsaken him, and therefore it cannot be thought that she should be faithful to any one else; and whoever entertains her is partaker with her in her falsehood. Thirdly, She is false to God himself: She forgets the covenant of her God, the marriage-covenant (Pro 2:17), to which God is not only a witness, but a party, for, he having instituted the ordinance, both sides vow to him to be true to each other. It is not her husband only that she sins against, but her God, who will judge whoremongers and adulterers because they despise the oath and break the covenant, Eze 17:18; Mal 2:14.
[2.]How fatal it will prove to those that fall in league with her, Pro 2:18, Pro 2:19. Let the sufferings of others be our warnings. Take heed of the sin of whoredom; for, First, The ruin of those who are guilty of it is certain and unavoidable, if they do not repent. It is a sin that has a direct tendency to the killing of the soul, the extinguishing of all good affections and dispositions in it, and the exposing of it to the wrath and curse of God and the sword of his justice. Those that live in forbidden pleasures are dead while they live. Let discretion preserve every man, not only from the evil woman, but from the evil house, for the house inclines to death; it is in the road that leads directly to eternal death; and her paths unto Rephaim, to the giants (so some read it), the sinners of the old world, who, living in luxury and excess of riot, were cut down out of time, and their foundation was overthrown with a flood. Our Lord Jesus deters us from sinful pleasures with the consideration of everlasting torments which follow them. Where the worm dies not, nor is the fire quenched. See Mat 5:28, Mat 5:29. Secondly, Their repentance and recovery are extremely hazardous: None, or next to none, that go unto her, return again. It is very rare that any who are caught in this snare of the devil recover themselves, so much is the heart hardened, and the mind blinded, by the deceitfulness of this sin. Having once lost their hold of the paths of life, they know not how to take hold of them again, but are perfectly besotted and bewitched with those base lusts. Many learned interpreters think that this caution against the strange woman, besides the literal sense, is to be understood figuratively, as a caution, 1. Against idolatry, which is spiritual whoredom. Wisdom will keep thee from all familiarity with the worshippers of images, and all inclination to join with them, which had for many ages been of such pernicious consequence to Israel and proved so to Solomon himself. 2. Against the debauching of the intellectual powers and faculties of the soul by the lusts and appetites of the body. Wisdom will keep thee from being captivated by the carnal mind, and from subjecting the spirit to the dominion of the flesh, that notorious adulteress which forsakes its guide, violates the covenant of our God, which inclines to death, and which, when it has got an undisturbed dominion, makes the case of the soul desperate.
II.This wisdom will be of use to guide and direct us in that which is good (Pro 2:20):
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men. We must avoid the way of the evil man, and the strange woman, in order that we may walk in good ways; we must cease to do evil, in order that we may learn to do well. Note,
1.There is a way which is peculiarly the way of good men, the way in which good men, as such, and as far as they have really been such, have always walked.
2.It will be our wisdom to walk in that way, to ask for the good old way and walk therein, Jer 6:16; Heb 6:12; Heb 12:1. And we must not only walk in that way awhile, but we must keep it, keep in it, and never turn aside out of it: The paths of the righteous are the paths of life, which all that are wise, having taken hold of, will keep their hold of. "That thou mayest imitate those excellent persons, the patriarchs and prophets (so bishop Patrick paraphrases it), and be preserved in the paths of those righteous men who followed after them." We must not only choose our way in general by the good examples of the saints, but must also take directions from them in the choice of our particular paths; observe the track, and go forth by the footsteps of the flock. Two reasons are here given why we should thus choose: - (1.) Because men's integrity will be their establishment, Pro 2:21. It will be the establishment, [1.] Of their persons: The upright shall dwell in the land, peaceably and quietly, as long as they live; and their uprightness will contribute to it, as it settles their minds, guides their counsels, gains them the good-will of their neighbours, and entitles them to God's special favour. [2.] Of their families: The perfect, in their posterity, shall remain in it. They shall dwell and remain for ever in the heavenly Canaan, of which the earthly one was but a type. (2.) Because men's iniquity will be their destruction, Pro 2:22. See what becomes of the wicked, who choose the way of the evil man; they shall be cut off, not only from heaven hereafter and all hopes of that, but from the earth now, on which they set their affections, and in which they lay up their treasure. They think to take root in it, but they and their families shall be rooted out of it, in judgment to them, but in mercy to the earth. There is a day coming which shall leave them neither root nor branch, Mal 4:1. Let that wisdom then enter into our hearts, and be pleasant to our souls, which will keep us out of a way that will end thus.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
What is the meaning of “Prepare the way of the Lord”? Make ready for the reception of whatever Christ may wish to enact; withdraw your hearts from the shadow of the law; cease from the types; think no more perversely.… “Make the paths of our God straight.” For every path that leads unto good is straight and smooth and easy; but the other is crooked that leads down to wickedness those who walk therein. For of such it is written, “Whose paths are crooked, and the tracks of their wheels awry.” Straightforwardness, therefore, of the mind is as it were a straight path, having no crookedness.
Continue studying Proverbs 2:15 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Proverbs 2:15 provides a vivid and sobering portrait of individuals from whom divine wisdom seeks to protect the discerning. These are people whose moral trajectory is fundamentally distorted, marked by a deliberate and stubborn deviation from truth and righteousness. Their very existence is defined by a chosen path of perversion, making them unreliable and dangerous influences for anyone seeking to walk in integrity. The verse serves as a crucial warning, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and actively avoiding such morally corrupt individuals to safeguard one's own spiritual and ethical well-being.
Context
Literary Context
Proverbs 2 is a profound parental instruction, an earnest appeal from a father to his son to diligently seek and embrace wisdom, understanding, and discernment. The chapter begins by outlining the immense benefits of pursuing wisdom, promising divine protection and guidance for those who "receive my words" and "incline thine ear unto wisdom" in Proverbs 2:1-5. Verses 6-11 detail how the Lord grants wisdom and preserves the path of the righteous. Proverbs 2:15 then shifts focus, characterizing the "evil man" from whom wisdom delivers the seeker, building upon the description in Proverbs 2:12-14. This verse specifically highlights their internal moral corruption, serving as a bridge to the subsequent warning against the "strange woman" in Proverbs 2:16-19, whose allure leads to equally crooked and destructive paths. The entire chapter functions as a stark contrast between the straight path of wisdom and the perilous detours of wickedness.
Historical & Cultural Context
The book of Proverbs emerges from the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, common across cultures like Egypt and Mesopotamia, yet uniquely grounded in Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. In ancient Israel, wisdom was not merely intellectual acumen but a practical skill for living righteously and successfully within God's moral order. The "way" or "path" imagery was a pervasive metaphor for one's conduct, lifestyle, and moral journey through life, reflecting the physical reality of ancient travel on often unpaved or winding roads. A "crooked" or "froward" path would have immediately conveyed a sense of danger, unreliability, and moral deviation from the established norms of justice and community. The emphasis on avoiding "evil men" and "strange women" reflects the societal threats to communal integrity and individual piety in a world where moral instruction was primarily transmitted through familial and community structures. The wisdom literature aimed to equip individuals to navigate a complex world by adhering to divine principles, often contrasting the wise with the foolish, the righteous with the wicked, and the straight path with the crooked one.
Key Themes
Proverbs 2:15 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Proverbs and the broader wisdom literature. The most prominent is the Dichotomy of Paths, which presents two fundamental ways of life: the path of wisdom and righteousness, and the path of folly and wickedness. This verse vividly illustrates the latter, emphasizing the inherent perversion of those who choose to deviate from God's moral order. Closely related is the theme of Moral Character and Conduct, where internal disposition directly manifests in external actions. The "crooked" and "froward" nature described here is not accidental but a chosen and deeply ingrained moral state, reflecting a deliberate rejection of uprightness. This leads to the theme of Discernment and Protection, as wisdom's primary function is to equip the listener to identify and avoid such dangerous individuals and their destructive influences. The father's instruction throughout the book of Proverbs consistently urges the son to choose the path of life and integrity, as seen in passages like Proverbs 4:14-15 and Proverbs 10:9.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This term (H734) refers to a well-trodden road or path, often used metaphorically for one's manner of life, conduct, or moral journey. Here, it signifies the habitual course of action and the established character of an individual. The use of "ways" in the plural suggests a consistent pattern of behavior rather than an isolated incident.
Derived from a root meaning "to distort" or "to twist," this word (H6141) describes something that is morally perverse, false, or distorted. It implies a deliberate contortion of truth, justice, or uprightness. It's not merely a mistake but an intentional deviation from what is straight and right, indicating a deep-seated moral deformity.
This primitive root (H3868) means "to turn aside," "to depart," or "to be perverse." It emphasizes a stubborn, obstinate, and unruly disposition that actively resists following the correct or moral path. It suggests a willful turning away from righteousness, a rebellious spirit that prefers deviation over adherence to divine standards.
Similar to "ways," this word (H4570) denotes a track or course, literally or figuratively. It reinforces the idea of a chosen direction or lifestyle. The pairing of "ways" and "paths" creates a comprehensive picture of one's entire life trajectory and moral conduct, emphasizing that both the general direction and specific steps of these individuals are marked by perversion.
Verse Breakdown
"Whose ways are crooked"
This clause introduces the defining characteristic of the individuals in question: their entire manner of life and customary conduct are inherently twisted and distorted. Their moral compass is not merely misaligned but actively bent away from truth and integrity. This "crookedness" implies a deliberate choice to operate outside of God's righteous standards, leading to actions that are deceitful, unjust, or morally perverse. It speaks to a fundamental flaw in their character that permeates all their interactions and decisions.
"and they froward in their paths"
This second clause reinforces and intensifies the description of moral perversion. "Froward" signifies a stubborn, unruly, and perverse disposition, indicating that these individuals not only walk on a distorted path but also actively resist correction or adherence to what is right. Their "paths"—their specific actions and life choices—are marked by this obstinate deviation. The parallelism emphasizes that their internal disposition (frowardness) manifests in their external conduct (crooked paths), creating a consistent and dangerous pattern of moral rebellion.
Literary Devices
Proverbs 2:15 employs several potent literary devices to convey its warning. Parallelism is evident in the two clauses, where "whose ways are crooked" and "and they froward in their paths" convey a similar meaning through different but reinforcing terms. This Synonymous Parallelism emphasizes the consistent and pervasive nature of the moral perversion. The verse also relies heavily on Imagery, specifically the Path Metaphor. "Ways" and "paths" are used to represent one's life course, moral journey, and habitual conduct. A "crooked" path immediately evokes a sense of deviation, danger, and unreliability, contrasting sharply with the "straight" or "level" paths advocated by wisdom. The terms "crooked" and "froward" themselves function as Metaphors for moral distortion and stubborn rebellion, painting a vivid picture of individuals whose internal character is fundamentally warped, leading to external actions that are equally perverse. This vivid imagery helps the listener visualize the dangers of associating with such people and reinforces the importance of walking in uprightness.
Theological and Thematic Connections
The theological implications of Proverbs 2:15 are profound, underscoring the biblical emphasis on righteous living as a reflection of one's relationship with God. The "crooked" and "froward" ways represent a rejection of divine order and the moral law, indicating a heart that is not aligned with God's will. This verse highlights that true wisdom is not merely intellectual knowledge but a practical, moral orientation that leads to a life of integrity. It implicitly teaches that moral choices have tangible consequences, shaping not only one's own destiny but also influencing the environment for others. The warning is therefore a call to ethical discernment, recognizing that moral character is revealed through consistent patterns of behavior, and that association with the perverse can corrupt one's own walk.
Reflection and Application
Proverbs 2:15 serves as a timeless warning, urging believers to cultivate sharp spiritual discernment in a world filled with diverse influences. It compels us to critically evaluate the character of those we associate with, recognizing that the "ways" and "paths" of individuals reveal their true moral compass. We are called to identify and distance ourselves from those whose conduct is consistently marked by deceit, perversion, and a stubborn refusal to walk in integrity, for their influence can subtly, yet powerfully, corrupt our own moral trajectory. This verse is also a profound invitation to introspection, prompting us to examine our own "ways" and "paths." Are there areas in our lives where we have become "crooked" or "froward," deviating from the straight and narrow path of righteousness? The call is to a radical commitment to personal integrity, ensuring that our intentions are pure, our actions are just, and our entire life's walk reflects the uprightness that wisdom advocates. In an age where moral relativism often blurs the lines, Proverbs 2:15 stands as a stark reminder of the clear distinction between the path of life and the way of destruction, challenging us to choose wisely and walk faithfully.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean for someone's "ways" to be "crooked" and "froward"?
To have "crooked ways" means that a person's life course, their habitual conduct, and their moral decisions are distorted, twisted, or deviate from what is considered upright, true, and just. It implies a moral deformity, a deliberate contortion of ethical standards. To be "froward in their paths" intensifies this description, indicating a stubborn, obstinate, and perverse disposition that actively resists correction or adherence to righteousness. It suggests a willful turning away from the right path, a rebellious spirit that prefers deviation. Together, these terms describe individuals whose entire character and conduct are marked by a consistent and chosen pattern of moral perversion and resistance to truth.
Why is it important to avoid those with "crooked" and "froward" paths?
The book of Proverbs consistently warns against associating with the wicked because their influence can corrupt the righteous. Those with "crooked" and "froward" paths are not merely misguided; they are actively perverse and resistant to truth. Their presence can lead one astray, normalize sin, and undermine one's commitment to integrity. As Proverbs 4:14-15 warns, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." Their destructive choices and moral compromises can become contagious, pulling others into similar patterns of behavior and leading to spiritual and practical harm.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of wisdom in Proverbs?
Proverbs 2:15 is a crucial part of wisdom's protective function. Wisdom, as presented in the book of Proverbs, is not just about gaining knowledge but about discerning right from wrong and choosing the path of life. This verse highlights what wisdom protects from: the dangers posed by morally corrupt individuals. By describing the character of the wicked, wisdom equips the listener to identify and avoid such persons, thereby safeguarding them from their destructive influence and ensuring they remain on the "paths of righteousness" as described in Proverbs 2:20. It underscores that true wisdom leads to practical discernment in relationships and a commitment to personal integrity.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Proverbs 2:15, with its stark depiction of "crooked" and "froward" ways, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Humanity, in its fallen state, is inherently "crooked" and "froward" in its spiritual paths, alienated from God and prone to sin. Our natural inclination is to deviate from God's perfect will, as described by passages like Romans 3:10-12. However, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of perfect wisdom and the very "straight path" that humanity desperately needs. He declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." In Him, the crookedness of our fallen nature is made straight, and our froward hearts are transformed. Through His atoning sacrifice, He rectifies our moral distortions, offering forgiveness and the power to walk in newness of life. The wisdom that protects from crooked paths, as sought in Proverbs, is fully realized in Christ, who is made unto us "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" as 1 Corinthians 1:30 proclaims. By uniting with Him through faith, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to put off the "old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," and to put on "the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" as exhorted in Ephesians 4:22-24, thus walking in paths that are no longer crooked but aligned with divine truth.