Proverbs 16 · Verse 4

Proverbs 16:4

The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Proverbs 16:4, King James Version

Proverbs 16:4 in other translations

BSBThe LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
WEBThe LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
ASVJehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
YLTAll things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked worketh for a day of evil.
DARBYJehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
BBEThe Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
WebsterThe LORD hath made all things for himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

What does Proverbs 16:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. for himself--"for its answer," or "purpose," that is, according to God's plan; the wicked are for the day of evil (Psa 49:5; Jr 17:18); sinning and suffering answer to each other, are indissolubly united.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 The Lord hath made all things for himself - He has so framed and executed every part of his creation, that it manifests his wisdom, power, goodness, and truth. Even the wicked for the day of evil - וגם רשע ליום רעה vegam rasha leyom raah. The whole verse is translated by the Chaldee thus: "All the works of the Lord are for those who obey him; and the wicked is reserved for the evil day." As רעה raah literally signifies to feed, it has been conjectured that the clause might be read, yea, even the wicked he feeds by the day, or daily. If we take the words as they stand in our present version, they mean no more than what is expressed by the Chaldee and Spriac: and as far as we can learn from their present confused state, by the Septuagint and Arabic, that "the wicked are reserved for the day of punishment." Coverdale has given, as he generally does, a good sense: "The Lorde dotll all thinges for his owne sake; yea, and when he kepeth the ungodly for the daye of wrath." He does not make the wicked or ungodly man; but when man has made himself such, even then God bears with him. But if he repent not, when the measure of his iniquity is filled up, he shall fall under the wrath of God his Maker.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
God makes use of the wicked to execute righteous vengeance on each other; and he will be glorified by their destruction at last.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 16:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כֹּ֤לkoleverythingH3605
פָּעַ֣לpa.'Alhe makesH6466
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּla.ma.'a.Ne.hufor <the> purpose itsH4617
וְגַם\־ve.gam-and alsoH1571
רָ֝שָׁ֗עra.Sha'[the] wickedH7563
לְי֣וֹםle.Yomfor a day ofH3117
רָעָֽה\׃ra.'AhtroubleH7451

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 16:4

  • 2 Peter 2:9

    The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

  • Isaiah 43:21

    This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

  • Romans 9:22

    What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

  • Isaiah 43:7

    Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

  • 1 Peter 2:8

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • Revelation 4:11

    Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Job 21:30

    That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

  • Romans 11:36

    For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lord.
Isa 43:7,21; Ro 11:36; Re 4:11
yea.
Job 21:30; Ro 9:22; 1Pe 2:8; 2Pe 2:3,9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 16:3

    Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

  • Proverbs 16:4

    The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

  • Proverbs 16:5

    Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Read all of Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Todas las cosas ha hecho Jehová por sí mismo, y aun al impío para el día malo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’ Éternel a tout fait pour lui-même, et même le méchant pour le jour du malheur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jehova hat alles zu seiner Absicht gemacht, und auch den Gesetzlosen für den Tag des Unglücks.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Universa propter semetipsum operatus est Dominus; impium quoque ad diem malum.