Proverbs 21 · Verse 4

Proverbs 21:4

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
Proverbs 21:4, King James Version

Proverbs 21:4 in other translations

BSBHaughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
WEBA high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
ASVA high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
YLTLoftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked is sin.
DARBYLofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
BBEA high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
WebsterA high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

What does Proverbs 21:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. high look--(Compare Margin; Psa 131:1). proud heart--or, "heart of breadth," one that is swollen (compare Psa 101:5). ploughing--better "lamp," a frequent figure for prosperity (Pr 20:20); hence joy or delight.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 A high look - The evidence of pride, self-conceit, and vanity. A proud heart, from which the high look, etc., come. And the ploughing - נר ner, lucerna, the lamp, the prosperity and posterity of the wicked; is sin - it is evil in the seed, and evil in the root evil in the branch, and evil in the fruit. They are full of sin themselves, and what they do is sinful.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Sin is the pride, the ambition, the glory, the joy, and the business of wicked men.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 21:4 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.

רוּם\־rum-haughtiness ofH7312
עֵ֭ינַיִם'Ei.na.yimeyesH5869
וּרְחַב\־u.re.chav-and a [person] arrogant ofH7342
לֵ֑בLevheartH3820
נִ֖רnir[the] lamp ofH5216
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
חַטָּֽאת\׃cha.Tat[is] sinH2403

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

Cross references for Proverbs 21:4

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Luke 18:14

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Proverbs 21:27

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

  • Proverbs 15:8

    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 10:4

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

  • Isaiah 3:16

    Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

  • Isaiah 2:11

    The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

  • Proverbs 30:13

    There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
An high look. Heb. Haughtiness of eyes.
6:17; 8:13; 30:13; Ps 10:4; Isa 2:11,17; 3:16; Lu 18:14; 1Pe 5:5
and the.
27; 15:8; Ro 14:23
plowing of the wicked. or, light of the wicked.

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

Context

  • Proverbs 21:3

    To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

  • Proverbs 21:4

    An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

  • Proverbs 21:5

    The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Read all of Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Altivez de ojos, y orgullo de corazón, y el brillo de los impíos, son pecado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’élévation des yeux et un cœur qui s’enfle, la lampe des méchants, c’est péché.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Stolz der Augen und Hochmut des Herzens, die Leuchte der Gesetzlosen, sind Sünde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Exaltatio oculorum est dilatatio cordis; lucerna impiorum peccatum.