Proverbs 26:27 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 26:27 mean?

Proverbs 26:27 warns that someone who tries to harm others by setting a trap or causing trouble will end up suffering the same harm themselves. The verse uses the images of digging a pit and rolling a stone to show that harmful plans often backfire on the person who started them.

This proverb is part of a collection of wise sayings, likely spoken by a teacher or sage to a general audience seeking wisdom for daily life. The verse uses everyday activities—digging a pit and moving a stone—as metaphors for plotting against others, highlighting the idea that wrongdoing often brings its own punishment.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 26:27

• "diggeth" (כָּרָה, karah): This word means to dig or excavate, often used for digging a trap or a grave. It suggests intentional effort to cause harm.
• "pit" (שַּׁחַת, shachat): This refers to a hole or trap, sometimes even a grave, emphasizing the danger intended for someone else.
• "rolleth" (גָּלַל, galal): This means to roll, as in rolling a heavy stone. It paints a picture of someone exerting effort to move something dangerous toward another.
• "return" (שׁוּב, shuv): This means to turn back or return, showing that the harm intended for others will come back on the one who started it.

Why Proverbs 26:27 matters

• Proverbs 26:27 clears up the idea that evil actions can be carried out without consequence, emphasizing that harm done to others often rebounds on the perpetrator.
• The verse fits into a wider biblical theme of poetic justice, where people reap what they sow, reinforcing a sense of moral order in daily life.
• By using everyday images, the proverb makes its warning memorable and relatable, helping readers recognize the risks of plotting harm against others.