Proverbs 2 · Verse 19

Proverbs 2:19

None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
Proverbs 2:19, King James Version

Proverbs 2:19 in other translations

BSBNone who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.
WEBNone who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life.
ASVNone that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:
YLTNone going in unto her turn back, Nor do they reach the paths of life.
DARBYnone that go unto her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:
BBEThose who go to her do not come back again; their feet do not keep in the ways of life:
WebsterNone that go to her return again, neither do they take hold of the paths of life.

What does Proverbs 2:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 2:16-19

16-19. Deliverance from another danger. the strange woman--This term is often used for harlot, or loose woman (Jud 11:1, 2), married (Pr 7:5, 19) or not (1Ki 11:1), so called, because such were, perhaps at first, foreigners, though "strange" may also denote whatever is opposed to right or proper, as "strange fire" (Nu 3:4); "strange incense" (Ex 30:9). flattereth--literally, "smooths." her words--(Psa 5:9).

Read the full comment on Proverbs 2:16-19 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 None that go unto her return again - There are very few instances of prostitutes ever returning to the paths of sobriety and truth; perhaps not one of such as become prostitutes through a natural propensity to debauchery. Among those who have been deceived, debauched, and abandoned, many have been reclaimed; and to such alone penitentiaries may be useful; to the others they may only be incentives to farther sinning. Rakes and debauchees are sometimes converted: but most of them never lay hold on the path of life; they have had their health destroyed, and never recover it. The original, חיים chaiyim, means lives; not only the health of the body is destroyed, but the soul is ruined. Thus the unhappy man may be said to be doubly slain.

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 2:19 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.

כָּל\־kol-allH3605
בָּ֭אֶיהָBa.'ei.ha[those who] go to herH935
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יְשׁוּב֑וּןye.shu.Vunthey return !H7725
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יַ֝שִּׂ֗יגוּya.Si.guthey reachH5381
אָרְח֥וֹת'a.re.Chot[the] paths ofH734
חַיִּֽים\׃chai.YimlifeH2416

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

Cross references for Proverbs 2:19

  • Ecclesiastes 7:26

    And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

  • Psalms 81:12

    So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

  • Hosea 4:14

    I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

  • Matthew 19:24-26

    And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

  • Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  • Jeremiah 13:23

    Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

  • Proverbs 4:18

    But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
None.
Ps 81:12; Ec 7:26; Jer 13:23; Ho 4:14; Mt 19:24-26
take.
4:18; Heb 6:18

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

Context

  • Proverbs 2:18

    For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

  • Proverbs 2:19

    None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

  • Proverbs 2:20

    That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

Read all of Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Todos los que á ella entraren, no volverán, ni tomarán las veredas de la vida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		aucun de ceux qui entrent auprès d’elle ne revient ni n’atteint les sentiers de la vie;
German
Elberfelder 1871		alle, die zu ihr eingehen, kehren nicht wieder und erreichen nicht die Pfade des Lebens:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non revertentur, nec apprehendent semitas vitæ.