What is the meaning of Proverbs 22:5? Thorns and snares “Thorns and snares lie on the path…” (Proverbs 22:5a) • Scripture often pictures thorns as painful obstacles (Genesis 3:18; Matthew 13:7). • Snares represent hidden traps waiting to spring (Psalm 140:5; 1 Timothy 6:9). • Together they speak of real, tangible dangers—moral, spiritual, even physical—that pierce and entangle anyone who steps into them (Proverbs 15:19). Lie on the path • The danger is not off to the side; it is “on the path,” directly in the roadway of life (Proverbs 4:14-15). • Every step along a sinful route invites fresh wounds and tighter bonds (Psalm 106:36). • The verse underscores that harm is predictable, not accidental (Galatians 6:7). Of the perverse • “Perverse” points to those who twist what is right (Proverbs 10:9; Isaiah 30:1). • They travel in conscious opposition to God’s order, preferring crookedness to straightness (Proverbs 2:15). • Such people should expect thorns and snares because they have chosen a path God warns against. He who guards his soul “…he who guards his soul…” (Proverbs 22:5b) • Guarding implies active, alert protection (Proverbs 4:23; 1 Peter 1:13). • The soul is precious, eternal; its welfare is worth vigilant defense (Matthew 16:26). • This watchfulness is empowered by God’s Word and Spirit (Psalm 119:11; Romans 8:6). Stays far from them • Wisdom doesn’t merely tiptoe around evil; it keeps a wide margin (Proverbs 1:15; 2 Corinthians 6:17). • Distance is a deliberate choice—turning away early rather than wrestling later (James 4:7-8). • The safest life is found not in flirting with sin’s edges but in walking the narrow road of obedience (Matthew 7:13-14). summary Proverbs 22:5 paints a vivid contrast: the crooked invite inevitable pain, while those who value their souls steer clear. Thorns and snares are real hazards lining a perverse way, yet the believer who vigilantly guards his life by God’s wisdom keeps well away and walks unharmed. |
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