Proverbs 21 · Verse 18

Proverbs 21:18

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Proverbs 21:18, King James Version

Proverbs 21:18 in other translations

BSBThe wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
WEBThe wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
ASVThe wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
YLTThe wicked is an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.
DARBYThe wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous man in the stead of the upright.
BBEThe evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
WebsterThe wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

What does Proverbs 21:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. (Compare Pr 11:8). By suffering what they had devised for the righteous, or brought on them, the wicked became their ransom, in the usual sense of substitutes (compare Jos 7:26; Es 7:9).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous - God often in his judgments cuts off the wicked, in order to prevent them from destroying the righteous. And in general, we find that the wicked fall into the traps and pits they have digged for the righteous.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The righteous is often delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead, and so seems as a ransom for him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 21:18 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.

כֹּ֣פֶרKo.fer[is] a ransomH3724
לַצַּדִּ֣יקla.tza.Dikfor the righteous [person]H6662
רָשָׁ֑עra.Sha'a wicked [person]H7563
וְתַ֖חַתve.Ta.chatand in place ofH8478
יְשָׁרִ֣יםye.sha.Rimupright [people]H3477
בּוֹגֵֽד\׃bo.Ged[one who] acts treacherouslyH898

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

Cross references for Proverbs 21:18

  • Proverbs 11:8

    The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

  • Isaiah 43:3-4

    For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

  • Isaiah 53:4-5

    Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  • Isaiah 55:8-9

    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
wicked.
11:8; Isa 43:3,4; 53:4,5; 55:8,9; 1Pe 3:18

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

Context

  • Proverbs 21:17

    He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

  • Proverbs 21:18

    The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

  • Proverbs 21:19

    It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Read all of Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
El rescate del justo es el impío, y por los rectos el prevaricador.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Le méchant est une rançon pour le juste, et le perfide est à la place des hommes intègres.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Der Gesetzlose ist ein Lösegeld für den Gerechten, und der Treulose tritt an die Stelle der Aufrichtigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Pro justo datur impius, et pro rectis iniquus.