Proverbs 1:11-12
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's striking here is that "without cause" isn't just about the victim not provoking them; it also emphasizes the utter meaninglessness of their violence. They aren't seeking justice or even revenge; their desire to "lay wait for blood" is purely for plunder and destruction, showcasing the profound godlessness of their intentions.
The author of Proverbs is painting a vivid picture of the dangerous temptations young people face. These verses show the corrupting influence of bad company, as sinners actively recruit others to join them in violent robbery and murder. The allure is presented as a lucrative and easy path, where the innocent are targeted for their possessions without any provocation.
The wicked don't just invite you to sin; they promise you success in it. How do they make their harmful plans sound appealing?
When the "sinners" in Proverbs invite the young man to join them, they use language that highlights their sneaky methods.
Planning the Attack
The Hebrew words used here paint a picture of careful, hidden plotting. One word suggests 'weaving' or 'knotting' a snare, like an intricate trap. The other means to 'hide' or 'conceal' oneself. They aren't just stumbling into sin; they are actively designing ways to be unseen while they work.
The Goal: Violence and Secrecy
Their stated goal is to 'lie in wait for blood' and 'ambush the innocent.' This isn't just about taking something; it's about violent action, and they plan to do it secretly so they won't be caught or punished. The appeal is not just the reward, but the 'easy and safe course' of their illicit activities.
Why would anyone harm someone who has done nothing to them? This phrase reveals the twisted logic of the wicked.
The phrase 'without cause' is a crucial detail in understanding the heart of the wicked.
Malice and Baseless Cruelty
When the sinners say they want to 'ambush the innocent without cause,' they mean it's for no justifiable reason from the innocent person's perspective. The innocent one hasn't provoked them, wronged them, or given them any reason for such violence. This highlights the sheer malice and irrationality of their proposed actions.
A Distorted View of Justice
This also reveals a warped understanding of their own actions. They might see it as 'without cause' in the sense that they won't face consequences, or perhaps they feel entitled to whatever they can take, regardless of justification. Solomon includes this to expose their depravity and deter the young man from associating with such baseless cruelty.
Understand the original words
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.
she'owl · Hebrew Noun
The place of the dead, the underworld, or the grave; it represents the abode of the departed, often characterized by gloom, silence, and finality.
bowr · Hebrew Noun
A grave, pit, or abyss, often used figuratively to denote destruction, death, or the place of the dead.
This passage describes the wicked who "lie in wait" with evil intentions, mirroring the ambush described in Proverbs, showing this is a recurring pattern of sin.
Psalm 55:15Here, the psalmist speaks of his enemies who 'draw the sword' and 'lie in wait' for the innocent, echoing the violent intent and secretive plotting found in Proverbs 1:11.
Jeremiah 5:26This verse describes wicked people who 'lie in wait like fowlers' to capture and exploit others, highlighting the predatory nature of those who seek to lure others into sin, as seen in Proverbs.
Matthew 26:4In this New Testament account, the chief priests and elders conspire 'by stealth' to arrest Jesus, showing how this theme of secret plotting against the innocent continues through Scripture.
pulpitProverbs 1:11: "If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:"
Verse 11. - If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood. The teacher here puts into the mouth of the sinners, for the sake of vivid representation, the first inducement with which they seek to allure youth from the paths of rectitude, viz. privacy and concealment (Cartwright, Wardlaw). Both the verbs אָרַב (arav) and צָפַן, (tzaphan) mean "to lay in wait" (Zockler)…
clarkeProverbs 1:11: "If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:"
If they say, Come with us - From all accounts, this is precisely the way in which the workers of iniquity form their partisans, and constitute their marauding societies to the present day. Let us lay wait for blood - Let us rob and murder. Let us lurk privily - Let us lie in ambush for our prey.
What's striking here is that "without cause" isn't just about the victim not provoking them; it also emphasizes the utter meaninglessness of their violence. They aren't seeking justice or even revenge; their desire to "lay wait for blood" is purely for plunder and destruction, showcasing the profound godlessness of their intentions.
The author of Proverbs is painting a vivid picture of the dangerous temptations young people face. These verses show the corrupting influence of bad company, as sinners actively recruit others to join them in violent robbery and murder. The allure is presented as a lucrative and easy path, where the innocent are targeted for their possessions without any provocation.
The author of Proverbs is painting a vivid picture of the dangerous temptations young people face. These verses show the corrupting influence of bad company, as sinners actively recruit others to join them in violent robbery and murder. The allure is presented as a lucrative and easy path, where the innocent are targeted for their possessions without any provocation.
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"If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;" — What's striking here is that "without cause" isn't just about the victim not provoking them; it also emphasizes the utter meaninglessness of their violence. They aren't seeking justice or even reveng…
