Proverbs 2 · Verse 12

Proverbs 2:12

To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Proverbs 2:12, King James Version

Proverbs 2:12 in other translations

BSBto deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,
WEBto deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,
ASVTo deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things;
YLTTo deliver thee from an evil way, From any speaking froward things,
DARBYTo deliver thee from the way of evil, from the man that speaketh froward things;
BBEGiving you salvation from the evil man, from those whose words are false;
WebsterTo deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

What does Proverbs 2:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 2:12-15
12-15. To deliver--as from great danger (Pr 6:5). way ... man--(Psa 1:1). froward things--perversity (Pr 6:14; 23:23), what is opposed to truth.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 The man that speaketh froward things - תהפכות tahpuchoth, things of subverston; from תפך taphach, to turn or change the course of a thing. Men who wish to subvert the state of things, whether civil or religious; who are seditious themselves, and wish to make others so. These speak much of liberty and oppression, deal greatly in broad assertions, and endeavor especially to corrupt the minds of youth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 2:10-22

If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 2:10-22 →

Proverbs 2:12 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.

לְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָle.ha.Tzi.le.khato deliver youH5337
מִדֶּ֣רֶךְmi.De.rekhfrom a wayH1870
רָ֑עRa'evilH7451
מֵ֝אִ֗ישׁme.'Ishfrom anyoneH376
מְדַבֵּ֥רme.da.Ber[who] speaksH1696
תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת\׃tah.pu.Khotperverse thingsH8419

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

Cross references for Proverbs 2:12

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 13:20

    He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:17

    Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

  • Isaiah 59:3-5

    For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

  • Proverbs 1:10-19

    My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: …

  • Proverbs 16:28-30

    A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

  • Psalms 26:4-5

    I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

  • Psalms 141:4

    Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

  • Proverbs 4:14-17

    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. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

  • Proverbs 3:32

    For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

  • Acts 20:30

    Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
deliver.
1:10-19; 4:14-17; 9:6; 13:20; Ps 17:4,5; 26:4,5; 141:4; 2Co 6:17
from the man.
3:32; 8:13; 16:28-30; Ps 101:4; Isa 59:3-5; Ac 20:30; 1Co 15:33

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

Context

  • Proverbs 2:11

    Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

  • Proverbs 2:12

    To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

  • Proverbs 2:13

    Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

Read all of Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Para librarte del mal camino, de los hombres que hablan perversidades;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pour te sauver du mauvais chemin, de l’homme qui prononce des choses perverses,
German
Elberfelder 1871		um dich zu erretten von dem bösen Wege, von dem Manne, der Verkehrtes redet;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut eruaris a via mala, et ab homine qui perversa loquitur;