21:3 21:3

Proverbs 21:4

21:5 21:5

Bible Versions

¶ An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin.
An high {H7312} look {H5869}, and a proud {H7342} heart {H3820}, and the plowing {H5215} of the wicked {H7563}, is sin {H2403}.
Haughty looks, a proud heart -what the wicked plow is sin.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
A high look, and a proud heart, Eventhe lamp of the wicked, is sin.

Proverbs 21:4 (KJV): "An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin."

This powerful proverb from the Book of Proverbs serves as a stark warning about the nature of sin, particularly focusing on the insidious root of pride and its pervasive influence on all aspects of a person's life and actions. It highlights that the very essence and output of a wicked individual are tainted by their internal disposition.

Context

The Book of Proverbs is a collection of ancient wisdom sayings, often presented as antithetical couplets or parallelisms, designed to impart practical wisdom for righteous living. It frequently contrasts the path of the righteous with that of the wicked, emphasizing the consequences of each. In this verse, Proverbs 21:4 specifically targets the internal condition of the heart and its outward manifestations, aligning with the book's broader theme that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and manifests in humility and integrity.

Key Themes

  • The Sinfulness of Pride: The verse begins by identifying "an high look" and "a proud heart" as inherently sinful. A "high look" refers to arrogance, disdain, or looking down on others, which stems directly from a "proud heart." This internal spiritual arrogance is consistently condemned throughout Scripture as an abomination to God. Proverbs 16:18 famously states that "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
  • The Pervasiveness of Sin: The phrase "the plowing of the wicked" is a key element. While "plowing" (Hebrew: niyr) can refer to tilling the ground, signifying labor, effort, or even the fruit of one's work, it can also be interpreted as "lamp" or "light," referring to their guiding principle or source of insight. Regardless of the precise nuance, the core message is that *everything* associated with the wicked—their actions, their intentions, their very way of life, or even what they consider their "light" or "truth"—is fundamentally tainted and declared "sin" because it originates from a proud and ungodly heart.
  • Motive Matters: This proverb underscores that actions, even those that might appear productive or benign on the surface (like plowing a field), are judged by the heart's condition and the motives behind them. If the heart is proud and wicked, its output is inherently sinful in God's eyes. This resonates with the biblical principle that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated as "plowing" is נִיר (niyr). While the KJV and some other translations render it as "plowing" or "cultivation" (implying the labor or yield of the wicked), many modern translations interpret it as "lamp" or "light" (e.g., ESV, NIV, NASB). Both interpretations convey a similar theological truth: whether it's the wicked person's active labor or their guiding philosophy, it is ultimately rooted in sin. The KJV's rendering of "plowing" emphasizes that even the productive efforts of those driven by pride are fundamentally flawed and condemned by God.

Practical Application

Proverbs 21:4 serves as a crucial reminder for self-examination. It challenges us to look beyond outward appearances and consider the condition of our hearts. Are our actions, even our good deeds or hard work, motivated by humility and a desire to honor God, or by pride, self-exaltation, or selfish ambition? This verse calls believers to cultivate a humble heart, recognizing that true righteousness flows from a spirit submitted to God, not from a haughty spirit or self-serving endeavors. It encourages us to pray for clean hearts, knowing that God desires truth in the inward parts.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 6:17

    A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

  • 1 Peter 5:5

    ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

  • Isaiah 2:17

    And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

  • Proverbs 8:13

    The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

  • Romans 14:23

    And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

  • Proverbs 21:27

    ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

  • Psalms 10:4

    The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.
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