to deliver you from the way of evilThis phrase emphasizes the protective and guiding role of wisdom. In biblical context, "the way of evil" refers to a lifestyle or path that leads away from God's righteousness. The concept of a "way" or "path" is common in Proverbs, symbolizing one's life choices and direction (
Proverbs 4:14-15). The deliverance mentioned here is a divine intervention, suggesting that wisdom acts as a safeguard against moral and spiritual danger. Historically, the Israelites were often warned against following the practices of surrounding nations, which were considered evil (
Deuteronomy 18:9-14). This deliverance can also be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate deliverer from sin and evil (
Colossians 1:13).
from the man who speaks perversity
"Perversity" in this context refers to twisted or corrupt speech that leads others astray. The "man who speaks perversity" is someone who uses deceitful or misleading words to influence others negatively. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, speech was a powerful tool, and the misuse of it was seen as a serious offense (Proverbs 6:12-14). This aligns with the broader biblical theme that words have the power to build up or destroy (James 3:5-6). The warning against such individuals is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are cautioned to be wary of false teachers and prophets (2 Peter 2:1-3). This phrase underscores the importance of discernment and the need for wisdom to recognize and resist corrupt influences.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Way of EvilThis phrase represents a path or lifestyle characterized by wickedness and moral corruption. It is a metaphorical path that leads away from God's wisdom and righteousness.
2.
The Man Who Speaks PerversityThis individual is someone who distorts truth and engages in deceitful or corrupt speech. In the Hebrew text, the word for "perversity" (tahpukot) implies a turning away from what is right and true.
Teaching Points
The Importance of DiscernmentAs believers, we must cultivate discernment to recognize and avoid the way of evil. This involves being grounded in Scripture and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Guarding Our SpeechWe should be mindful of our own words, ensuring they align with truth and righteousness, and avoid engaging in or endorsing perverse speech.
Choosing the Right PathDaily decisions determine our spiritual direction. We must consciously choose paths that lead to righteousness and align with God's wisdom.
Influence of CompanionsThe company we keep can influence our spiritual journey. We should surround ourselves with those who encourage us in our faith and steer clear of those who lead us astray.
Prayer for DeliveranceRegular prayer for deliverance from evil influences and for strength to resist temptation is crucial in maintaining a righteous path.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 2:12?
2.How can Proverbs 2:12 help us discern and avoid "the way of evil"?
3.What practical steps can we take to resist "perverse speech" in Proverbs 2:12?
4.How does Proverbs 2:12 connect with Ephesians 5:11 on avoiding wickedness?
5.In what ways can we apply Proverbs 2:12 to our daily conversations?
6.How does seeking wisdom protect us from "those who leave the straight paths"?
7.How does Proverbs 2:12 define "the way of evil" in today's world?
8.What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 2:12?
9.How does Proverbs 2:12 relate to the concept of wisdom in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 2?
11.What does the Bible teach about controlling speech?
12.2 Timothy 2:3-4 - Does using military imagery to describe Christian life conflict with Christ's teachings on peace and nonviolence elsewhere in the Bible?
13.2 Chronicles 12:12-14 - Why does the text claim partial repentance yet still list Rehoboam's reign as evil compared to other biblical narratives?
14.What does maltheism mean?What Does Proverbs 2:12 Mean
To deliver you from the way of evilSolomon has just painted a picture of wisdom entering the heart (Proverbs 2:10-11). Instantly he tells us what that wisdom does: “to deliver you from the way of evil.” The word “way” pictures a traveled road—a lifestyle, a pattern that leads somewhere. Wisdom functions like a spiritual rescue team, pulling us off a path that heads in the wrong direction.
•Psalm 1:1 draws the same map, warning against “walk[ing] in the counsel of the wicked.”
• Jesus teaches us to pray, “Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13), showing that God actively intervenes in response to humble dependence.
•Proverbs 4:14-15 calls us to “turn away” and “pass on” when evil roads appear, underscoring that escape is possible and practical.
Because Scripture is reliable and literal, we can trust that God really does step in, guiding our feet away from destructive detours when we prize His wisdom above our own instincts.
From the man who speaks perversityThe second half of the verse zooms in on the tour guide standing along that wrong road: “the man who speaks perversity.” This is not mere colorful language; it is a literal warning about people whose twisted speech shapes the environment around them.
•Proverbs 6:12 identifies “a worthless and wicked man [who] walks with a perverse mouth,” showing that corrupt words reveal a corrupt heart.
•Psalm 10:7 describes the ungodly whose “mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression,” highlighting the damage such speech inflicts.
•Ephesians 5:6 cautions, “Let no one deceive you with empty words,” reminding believers that persuasive words can drag us into participation with darkness.
Bullet-point takeaways:
– Perversity in speech isn’t just foul language; it’s language that twists truth to justify sin.
– The danger is relational. Aligning with a perverse speaker gradually normalizes his values.
– Wisdom exposes and distances us from such influence before it erodes our convictions (1 Corinthians 15:33).
summaryProverbs 2:12 promises that God-given wisdom serves as a personal rescuer, pulling us off destructive paths and away from influencers whose crooked words would bend our hearts. By treasuring Scripture and leaning on the Lord’s discernment, we are literally kept safe—both from the road of evil and from the voices that would lure us onto it.
(12)
Froward things.--(Heb.,
tahp-khoth)
, i.e.,misrepresentations, distortions of the truth.
Verse 12. -
To deliver thee from the way of the evil man. The first special advantage resulting from the protecting guardianship of discretion and understanding.
From the way of the evil man; properly,
from an evil way; Hebrew,
מִדֶּרֶך רָע (
midarek ra), not necessarily, though by implication, connected with man, as in the Authorized Version.
רָע (
ra), "evil," "wicked," in an ethical sense, is an adjective, as in
Jeremiah 3:16 (
לֵב רָע,
lev ra), "an evil heart;" cf. the LXX.,
ἀπὸ ὁδοῦ κακῆς; the Vulgate, Targum, and Arabic,
a vid mala, and the Syriac,
a viis pravis. "Way," is here used in the sense of "conduct," and the evil way is a line of conduct or action which is essentially wicked or evil. The teacher has already Warned youth against the temptations and dangers of the way of evil men in
Proverbs 1:10-15; he now shows that discretion, arising from wisdom being resident in the heart, will be a sufficient safeguard against its allurements.
From the man that speaketh froward things. Perverse utterances are here brought in contradistinction to the evil way or froward conduct.
Man (
אִשׁish) is here used generically, as the representative of the whole class of base and wicked men, since all the following verbs are in the plural,
Froward things. The word
תַּהְפֻכוֹּת (
tah'pucoth), here translated "froward things," is derived from the root
צּצּצּ (
haphak), "to turn," "to pervert," and should be translated "perverseness." Perverseness is the wilful misrepresentation of that which is good and true. The utterances are of a distorted and tortuous character. The word, only found in the plural, is abstract in form, and is of frequent, though not of exclusive, occurrence in the Proverbs. It is attributed to the Israelites in
Deuteronomy 32:20. It is met with again in such expressions as "the mouth of perverseness," Authorized Version "froward mouth" (
Proverbs 8:13); "the tongue of perverseness," "froward tongue," Authorized Version (
Proverbs 10:31); "the man of perverseness," "froward man," Authorized Version (
Proverbs 16:28). What is here said of wicked men is attributed to drunkards in
Proverbs 23:33, "Thine heart shall utter perverse things." The expression finds its explanation in
Proverbs 6:13, 14. The spirit which indulges in this perverseness is stubborn, scornful, self-willed, and rebellious, and it is from such a spirit that discretion is a preservative. In
Job 5:13 it is said that "the counsel of the froward is carried headlong" (see also
2 Samuel 22:27;
Psalm 18:26;
Psalm 101:4). The LXX. rendering of this word is
μηδὲν πιστόν, "nothing trustworthy," which is amplified in the Arabic,
quod nullam in se continet veritatem, "that which contains in itself no truth."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
to deliver youלְ֭הַצִּ֣ילְךָ(lə·haṣ·ṣî·lə·ḵā)Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5337:To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliverfrom the wayמִדֶּ֣רֶךְ(mid·de·reḵ)Preposition-m | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870:A road, a course of life, mode of actionof evil,רָ֑ע(rā‘)Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evilfrom the manמֵ֝אִ֗ישׁ(mê·’îš)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male personwho speaksמְדַבֵּ֥ר(mə·ḏab·bêr)Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1696:To arrange, to speak, to subdueperversity,תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת׃(tah·pu·ḵō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8419:Perversity, perverse thing
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:12 To deliver you from the way (Prov. Pro Pr) 
