Proverbs 11:19

11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

KJV

He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

As righteousness tends to life: so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

What does Proverbs 11:19 mean?

Proverbs 11:19 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh), חַי (chay), רָדַף (râdaph). It connects to 8 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

righteousnessצְדָקָהtsᵉdâqâh/tsed-aw-kaw'/H6666rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)

tendeth

life:חַיchay/khah'-ee/H2416alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively

that

pursuethרָדַףrâdaph/raw-daf'/H7291to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)

evilרַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

pursueth

his

own

death.מָוֶתmâveth/maw'-veth/H4194death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin

Commentary on Proverbs 11:19

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 11:19

to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. It is here shown that righteousness, not only by the divine judgment, will end in life, and wickedness in death, but that righteousness, in its own nature, has a direct tendency to life and wickedness to death. 1. True holiness is true happiness; it is a preparative for it, a pledge and earnest of it. Righteousness inclines, disposes, and leads, the soul to life. 2. In like manner, those that indulge themselves in sin are fitting themselves for destruction. The more violent a man is in sinful pursuits the more eagerly bent he is upon his own destruction; he awakens it when it seemed to slumber and hastens it when it seemed to linger. Weighty Sayings. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord : but such as are upright in their way are his delight. It concerns us to know what God hates and what he loves, that we may govern ourselves accordingly, may avoid his displeasure and recommend ourselves to his favour. Now here we are told, 1. That nothing is more offensive to God than hypocrisy and double-dealing, for these are signified by the word which we translate frowardness, pretending justice, but intending wrong, walking in crooked ways, to avoid discovery. Those are of a froward heart who act in contradiction to that which is good, under a profession of that which is good, and such are, more than any sinners, an abomination to the Lord, Isa. lxv. 5 . 2. That nothing is more pleasing to God than sincerity and plain-dealing: Such as are upright in their way, such as aim and act with integrity, such as have their conversation in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, these God delights in, these he even boasts of ( Hast thou considered my servant Job? ) and will have us to admire. Behold an Israelite indeed! 21 Though hand

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 17:6

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:11

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Isaiah 41:18

I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

John 7:37

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 7:38

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

1 Corinthians 10:4

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. followed: or, went with them

Revelation 22:1

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Topics

Righteousness Sin (1)Wicked

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 11:19.

Deuteronomy 19:6

Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. slay: Heb. smite him in life in: Heb. from yesterday the third day

Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 44:4

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Genesis 8:21

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. a sweet: Heb. a savour of rest or, satisfaction for the imagination: or, through the imagination

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 11:19 say?

Proverbs 11:19 (King James Version) reads: "As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death."

Is Proverbs 11:19 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 11:19 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 11:19, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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