Proverbs 16:29 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 16:29 mean?

Proverbs 16:29 warns that a violent person tries to persuade others to join in wrongdoing, leading them down a harmful and morally bad path. The verse highlights the danger of being influenced by those who are aggressive or willing to do harm.

In the book of Proverbs, these sayings are collected as wisdom for living well, often directed to young people or anyone seeking guidance. Here, the focus is on the real risk of being drawn into trouble by someone whose character is marked by violence. The verse is a caution not just against violence itself, but against the influence of those who practice it.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 16:29

• "violent" (חָמָס, ḥamas): This word often means violence, wrongdoing, or cruelty. It signals that the person described is not just physically aggressive but also unjust or morally corrupt.
• "enticeth" (פָּתָה, pathah): This verb means to persuade, entice, or seduce. It carries the sense of someone using words or actions to lure another person into something they might not otherwise do.
• "way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek): This word means a road, path, or way of life. Here, it emphasizes that the influence leads someone into a pattern or direction that is "not good," not just a single act.

Why Proverbs 16:29 matters

• Proverbs 16:29 clarifies that the danger is not only in being violent yourself, but also in being led astray by someone else’s violent tendencies.
• The verse helps the reader see that moral harm often begins with persuasion or influence, not just with obvious acts.
• This warning fits into the larger theme of Proverbs, which repeatedly urges wisdom in choosing companions and being alert to the character of those who seek to influence us.