◄ Proverbs 22:5 ►
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
Study Bible
Thorns and snares
The imagery of "thorns and snares" evokes a sense of danger and entrapment. In the Hebrew context, "thorns" (Hebrew: קֹוצִים, qotsim) often symbolize obstacles or consequences of sin, reminiscent of the curse in Genesis 3:18 where the ground would produce thorns and thistles as a result of the Fall. "Snares" (Hebrew: פַּחִים, pachim) are traps set by hunters, symbolizing hidden dangers that can capture the unwary. Together, these terms suggest that the path of sin is fraught with visible and hidden perils, warning believers to be vigilant and discerning.

lie on the path
The phrase "lie on the path" indicates that these dangers are not merely incidental but are deliberately placed along the journey of life. The Hebrew word for "path" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) often refers to one's way of life or moral conduct. This suggests that those who choose a life contrary to God's wisdom will inevitably encounter these spiritual and moral hazards. The path is not just a physical journey but a metaphor for the choices and directions one takes in life.

of the perverse
The term "perverse" (Hebrew: עִקֵּשׁ, iqqesh) refers to those who are morally twisted or crooked, deviating from the straight path of righteousness. In a biblical sense, perversity is not just about outward actions but an inward disposition that rejects God's truth and wisdom. This highlights the importance of aligning one's heart and actions with God's will to avoid the pitfalls of a perverse life.

he who guards his soul
"Guards" (Hebrew: שָׁמַר, shamar) implies a vigilant, proactive effort to protect oneself. The "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) in Hebrew encompasses one's entire being, including mind, will, and emotions. This phrase emphasizes the responsibility of believers to actively safeguard their spiritual well-being by adhering to God's commandments and wisdom. It is a call to be intentional in one's spiritual journey, recognizing the value and vulnerability of the soul.

stays far from them
The action to "stay far from them" suggests a deliberate avoidance of the dangers associated with a perverse path. This is not merely a passive distancing but an active choice to pursue righteousness and wisdom. The Hebrew concept here is about making conscious decisions to avoid situations, influences, or behaviors that could lead one astray. It underscores the biblical principle of separation from sin and the pursuit of holiness, as echoed in passages like 2 Corinthians 6:17, which calls believers to come out from among the ungodly and be separate.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Perverse
This term refers to individuals who deviate from what is considered morally right or good. In the Hebrew text, the word used is (iqqeshim), which implies those who are morally twisted or crooked.

2. The Righteous
While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the righteous are implied as those who guard their souls and avoid the path of the perverse. They are contrasted with the perverse throughout Proverbs.

3. Thorns and Snares
These are metaphorical obstacles and dangers that represent the consequences of a perverse lifestyle. In the Hebrew, (qotsim) for thorns and (pachim) for snares suggest physical and spiritual traps.

4. The Path
This symbolizes one's way of life or moral journey. The Hebrew word (derekh) is often used to describe one's conduct or course of life.

5. The Soul
The Hebrew word (nephesh) refers to the inner being or life essence of a person, emphasizing the importance of spiritual vigilance.
Teaching Points
Guarding the Soul
Emphasize the importance of spiritual vigilance and self-discipline in maintaining a righteous path.

Avoiding Moral Traps
Encourage believers to recognize and steer clear of situations and influences that could lead them astray.

Consequences of Perverse Living
Highlight the inevitable negative outcomes of living a life contrary to God's principles.

Choosing the Right Path
Stress the importance of making daily choices that align with biblical teachings and lead to spiritual growth.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some modern-day "thorns and snares" that can lead us away from a righteous path?

2. How can we practically "guard our soul" in our daily lives?

3. In what ways does the concept of "the path" in Proverbs 22:5 relate to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:13-14?

4. How can we help others who may be on a perverse path to find their way back to righteousness?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced a moral decision. How did the principles in Proverbs 22:5 guide your choice?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 4:14-15
This passage advises avoiding the path of the wicked, reinforcing the idea of steering clear of moral danger.

Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus speaks of the narrow and wide gates, illustrating the choice between a righteous path and a destructive one.

Galatians 6:7-8
Paul warns that one reaps what they sow, connecting to the idea that a perverse path leads to negative consequences.
Sermons
The Path of the PerverseW. Clarkson Proverbs 22:5
The General Conditions of a Good NameE. Johnson Proverbs 22:1-5
The Good NameE. Johnson Proverbs 22:1-16
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Froward, Guards, Holdeth, Keepeth, Keeping, Keeps, Lie, Nets, Path, Perverse, Snares, Soul, Stays, Thorns, Twisted, Watch, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 22:5

     4520   thorns

Library
The Rich and the Poor
Chapel Royal, Whitehall, 1871. Proverbs xxii. 2. "The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all." I have been asked to preach here this afternoon on behalf of the Parochial Mission Women's Fund. I may best describe the object for which I plead, as an attempt to civilise and Christianise the women of the lower classes in the poorer districts of London and other great towns, by means of women of their own class--women, who have gone through the same struggles as they have, …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

One Lion Two Lions no Lion at All
A sermon (No. 1670) delivered on Thursday Evening, June 8th, 1882, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, by C. H. Spurgeon. "The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets."--Proverbs 22:13. "The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets."--Proverbs 26:13. This slothful man seems to cherish that one dread of his about the lions, as if it were his favorite aversion and he felt it to be too much trouble to invent another excuse. …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Formation of Habits.
School Sermon. Proverbs xxii. 6. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." INTRODUCTION.--There is a district, high up in the Black Forest, where the ground is full of springs. It is a plain some nine hundred feet above the sea. Thousands upon thousands of little springs gush out of the soil; you seem to be on the rose of a vast watering-can. Now, from this great source flow a good many rivers, and they flow in very different, nay, opposite directions. …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

The Christian Business World
Scripture references: Proverbs 22:29; Romans 12:11; Psalms 24:1; 50:10-12; Haggai 2:8; Psalm 49:6,10,16,17; 62:10; Matthew 13:22; Mark 10:23,24; Job 31:24-26; Proverbs 3:9; Matthew 25:14-30; 24:45-51; 6:19-21; Luke 12:16-21. THE IDEAL IN THE BUSINESS WORLD There is often a wide difference between the methods actually employed in doing business and when they should be. Good men who are in the thick of the battle of competition and rivalry with other firms in the same line of trade, are the quickest …
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

Philip and the Emperor
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.--Prov. xxii. 29. Kallias stayed a fortnight under the hospitable roof of Olympias, and during those days he had the pleasure of seeing how greatly his honest and genial simplicity brightened the thoughts both of his hostess and of his friend. The general outline of his own future seemed now to be approximately settled. Like Philip, he had acquired an incurable disgust for Constantinople, with …
Frederic William Farrar—Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom

He Accuses Abaelard for Preferring his Own Opinions and Even Fancies to the Unanimous Consent of the Fathers, Especially Where He Declares that Christ did Not
He accuses Abaelard for preferring his own opinions and even fancies to the unanimous consent of the Fathers, especially where he declares that Christ did not become incarnate in order to save man from the power of the devil. 11. I find in a book of his sentences, and also in an exposition of his of the Epistle to the Romans, that this rash inquirer into the Divine Majesty attacks the mystery of our Redemption. He admits in the very beginning of his disputation that there has never been but one conclusion …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You. "
Matth. vi. 33.--"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The perfection even of the most upright creature, speaks always some imperfection in comparison of God, who is most perfect. The heavens, the sun and moon, in respect of lower things here, how glorious do they appear, and without spot! But behold, they are not clean in God's sight! How far are the angels above us who dwell in clay! They appear to be a pure mass of light and …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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