Proverbs 1:10-11
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The critical word here isn't "entice," but "consent." It's easy to think temptation itself is the sin, but the verse emphasizes that the real danger lies not in being approached by sinners, but in agreeing to their ways. True protection comes from a decisive "no" at the moment of decision, not just avoiding the situation.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The wise father is continuing his instruction to his son, moving from general principles to specific dangers. He's now warning about the allure of wicked companions who are actively seeking to lead others into a life of crime and violence, like robbers or outlaws. This sets the stage for a series of warnings against joining such groups and explains the disastrous consequences that follow such choices.
We all sin, right? So what's so special about these 'sinners' Proverbs warns us about? It’s not just about making mistakes.
Proverbs uses the word 'sinners' (Hebrew: 'khattaim') to describe people who have made sin their lifestyle. They aren't just folks who occasionally miss the mark; they are habitual, hardened wrongdoers, often involved in serious crimes like robbery and violence.
Think of it like this: everyone stumbles sometimes. But these 'sinners' are the ones who have built their lives around the stumble. They actively recruit others, drawing them into their destructive world with enticing words and false promises.
This isn't about gently correcting someone who erred; it's a serious warning to guard yourself against those who have intentionally abandoned righteousness and made wickedness their profession.
Temptation is one thing, but Proverbs gives us a crystal-clear instruction about how to handle it. It all hinges on one crucial word.
The core of the warning in Proverbs 1:10 is the command: 'consent thou not.' This isn't just about avoiding bad situations; it's about your internal response.
'Consent' means to agree, to yield, to give approval. Sin enters not when you're tempted, but when you agree with the temptation. The external pressure from 'sinners' has no power over you unless your own will opens the door.
Your will is a protected space. Even the devil cannot force you to sin. It requires your active agreement, your 'yes' to the wrong path. This makes our choices incredibly significant – and incredibly powerful.
Ask a follow-up
Why do these 'sinners' try so hard to pull others in? It's not just for fun; there's a dangerous logic behind their invitations.
When sinners entice you, they aren't just offering a casual invitation; they are often trying to 'open the way' (as the Hebrew word implies) for you to join their destructive lifestyle.
Their enticements come with deceptive promises: camaraderie, excitement, wealth, and ease. They might say, 'Come with us,' masking their true intent to 'lay wait for blood' or 'lurk privily for the innocent.' They want you to believe their way is profitable and easy, hiding the ultimate cost.
This isn't just about avoiding immediate danger; it's about recognizing that the path of sin is a downward spiral. To refuse their enticement is to refuse to take the first step down a road that leads only to ruin, both for yourself and for others.
Understand the original words
chatta'im · Hebrew Noun
Those who miss the mark of God's moral standard. They are people whose lives are characterized by rebellion, error, and deviation from the path of righteousness.
pathah · Hebrew Verb
To attempt to lure, persuade, or deceive someone into doing wrong. It describes a calculated effort to lead another away from the path of righteousness.
naqiy · Hebrew Adjective
A person who is free from guilt or blame, especially in a legal or moral sense; one who has not committed the specific wrong they are accused of or harmed by.
This Psalm contrasts the blessedness of the one who avoids wicked counsel with the destruction awaiting those who follow the path of sinners, mirroring the Proverbs' warning to 'consent thou not'.
Matthew 7:13-14Jesus describes two paths – one leading to destruction and frequented by many, and another, narrow path to life. This echoes the Proverbs' urgency to choose wisely and not be led astray by the crowd.
Romans 12:2Paul urges believers not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. This directly relates to Proverbs' instruction to resist conforming to the ways of enticing sinners.
Ephesians 5:11This passage commands believers to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. It amplifies the call in Proverbs to actively reject and distance oneself from sinful enticements.
1 Corinthians 15:33The Apostle Paul warns that 'bad company corrupts good character,' reinforcing the critical need to refuse the enticements of sinners as advised in Proverbs.
clarkeProverbs 1:10: "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
If sinners entice thee, consent thou not - אל תבא al tobe, Will-not. They can do thee no harm unless thy will join in with them. God's eternal purpose with respect to man is that his will shall be free; or, rather, that the will, which is essentially Free, shall never be forced nor be forceable by any power. Not even the devil himself can lead a man into sin till he consents. Were it not so, how could God judge the world?
bensonProverbs 1:10: "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
Proverbs 1:10-14 . My son, if sinners — Sinners of any description; entice thee — To sin, to commit any known iniquity, or to omit any known duty; consent thou not — Yield not in any degree to their advice, persuasions, or solicitations, for why shouldest thou destroy thyself to gratify them? If they say, Come with us — We are numerous, and strong, and sociable. Let us lay wait for blood — That is, to shed blood. He does not int…
The critical word here isn't "entice," but "consent." It's easy to think temptation itself is the sin, but the verse emphasizes that the real danger lies not in being approached by sinners, but in agreeing to their ways. True protection comes from a decisive "no" at the moment of decision, not just avoiding the situation.
The wise father is continuing his instruction to his son, moving from general principles to specific dangers. He's now warning about the allure of wicked companions who are actively seeking to lead others into a life of crime and violence, like robbers or outlaws. This sets the stage for a series of warnings against joining such groups and explains the disastrous consequences that follow such choices.
The wise father is continuing his instruction to his son, moving from general principles to specific dangers. He's now warning about the allure of wicked companions who are actively seeking to lead others into a life of crime and violence, like robbers or outlaws. This sets the stage for a series of warnings against joining such groups and explains the disastrous consequences that follow such choices.
"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;" — The critical word here isn't "entice," but "consent." It's easy to think temptation itself is the sin, but the verse emphasizes that the real danger lies not in being approached by sinners, but in *a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
