What Does Proverbs 24:18 Mean?
Lest the LORD see it, and it be evil in his eyes, and he return the burning of his anger from him.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.THE KEY
The person gloating over an enemy’s fall may be the very sight that makes the LORD’s anger turn away from that enemy.
THE MEANING
When someone who opposes you falls, the LORD sees what their fall draws out of you, and that delight is evil in his sight. The heat of anger belongs to the LORD; he can turn it away from that person. Another person’s ruin does not put judgment under your control.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Their downfall proves the LORD is against them, so my pleasure in their punishment is justified.
THE ROOT
וְהֵשִׁיב
weheshiv
GROWS FROM
שׁ־ו־ב
sh-v-b
To turn or return; in this form, to cause something to turn back.
The Hebrew verb comes from שׁוּב (shuv, return or turn back), in a form that means to turn something back. Here what turns is the LORD’s אַף (aph, nostril; anger or heat): the anger can be withdrawn from the fallen person, and the turning belongs to the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
shuv: Turn, return.
שׁוּב
The root itself makes the verse’s “turn away” part of a wider language of turning back.
yeshovev: Restore, bring back.
יְשׁוֹבֵב
This related form, used for restoring the soul in Psalm 23:3, shows that turning back can also mean restoration.
THE PATTERN
Another person’s calamity does not grant you ownership of judgment; the LORD’s anger remains his to turn.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamities does not come away clear.Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but give room to wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will give back, says the LORD.But I say to you, love your enemies, speak well over those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse you and pursue you.THE THREAD
You gather in all your overflow; you turn back from the burning of your anger.The psalm uses the same root, שׁוּב (shuv, return or turn back), for turning away anger. Proverbs places that turning in the moment you see another person fall: the LORD can withdraw anger from them, and the turn belongs to God.
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