Proverbs 29:25

25 The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.

Proverbs 29:25 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man bringeth a snare
Either that which is subjectively in man; not a divine fear, or the fear of God, that grace which is put into the heart, for that leads to no snare, but tends to life; but a human fear, a servile one, a distrust of the power and providence, grace and goodness, of God, which has torment in it; which brings into bondage, and into many distresses and difficulties, and is opposed to trust in the Lord: or objectively, which has man for its object; a fear of losing the favour and friendship of men, of not having honour and applause from them; and a fear of their reproaches and reviling; of the wrath of men, of persecution from them, and of sufferings by them, even death itself; which has been sometimes a snare to ministers of the word, to drop or conceal some truths of it; and to professors of religion, not to embrace, own, and profess them; as many, through fear of the Jews, would not profess Jesus to be the Messiah, though they knew he was, ( John 7:13 ) ( 9:21 ) ( John 12:42 John 12:43 ) ; yea, such a fear has been a snare to the best of men, and leads into temptation and sin; as particularly Abraham and Peter, ( Genesis 12:12 Genesis 12:13 ) ( 20:11 ) ( Matthew 26:69-74 ) ; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe;
that trusts in the Lord as the God of nature and providence, and the God of all grace, for all mercies, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, and leaves himself and case with him; such an one is safe from men, and the fear of them, and from snares and temptations, and sin and mischief, which come by them: or, "shall be lifted up on high" ^F4; he is upon a high rock, firm and sure; he dwells on high, his place of defence is the munition of rocks; he is in a high tower which is impregnable, in a city of refuge where he is safe; he is as immovable as Mount Zion; he is above the fear of man, or danger from him; he is out of the reach of all his enemies, men or devils; see ( Proverbs 18:10 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (bgvy) "sublevabitur", V. L. "elevabitur", Pagninus, Montanus; "exaltabitar", Vatablus; "in edito collocatur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "sublimabitur", Cocceius, Michaelis; "celsa in arce locabitur", Schultens, so Ben Melech.

Proverbs 29:25 In-Context

23 A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

24 To be a partner of a thief is to hate one's own life; one hears the victim's curse, but discloses nothing.

25 The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.

26 Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.

27 The unjust are an abomination to the righteous, but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.

Footnotes

• [a] Or [human fear]