Proverbs 1:11

11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

Proverbs 1:11 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 1:11

If they say, come with us
Leave your father's house, and the business of life in which you are; make one of us, and become a member of our society, and go along with us upon the highway;

let us lay wait for blood;
lie in ambush under some hedge or another, waiting till a rich traveller comes up and passes that way, and then rise and shed his blood in order to get his money; and the same word signifies both "blood" and "money", and wait is laid for one for the sake of the other;

let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
or "let us hide" {q}, the Vulgate Latin version adds "snares"; so Vatablus and others, as the fowler does for birds; or "let us hide ourselves" ^F18; in some private place, waiting "for the innocent", the harmless traveller, who has done no injury to any man's person or property; thinks himself safe, and is not aware of any design upon him; going about his lawful business, and having done nothing to provoke such miscreants to attempt his life or take away his property: and which they do "without cause" as to him; "freely" ^F19 as to themselves; and "with impunity" ^F20, as they promise themselves and one another; all which senses the word used will bear.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (hnpun) "abscondamus", Michaelis.
F18 "Abscondamus nos", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "abscondamus nosmetipsos", Baynus.
F19 (Mnx) "gratis", Pagninus, Montanus, Michaelis, Schultens.
F20 "Impune", Junius & Tremellius, Amama.

Proverbs 1:11 In-Context

9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!

12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave ; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.

13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.