For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;This phrase highlights the compulsive nature of the wicked, suggesting that their actions are not merely choices but necessities driven by their corrupt nature. In biblical context, this reflects the pervasive influence of sin, as seen in
Genesis 6:5, where every inclination of the human heart was only evil all the time. The inability to rest without committing evil acts underscores the depth of their moral depravity. This can be contrasted with the peace and rest promised to the righteous, as seen in
Psalm 4:8, where the faithful can lie down and sleep in safety. The phrase also echoes the idea of spiritual bondage, where sin becomes a master, as Paul describes in
Romans 6:16.
they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
This part of the verse emphasizes the destructive intent of the wicked, who find satisfaction in causing harm to others. The cultural context of ancient Israel viewed sleep as a divine gift and a sign of God's favor, as seen inPsalm 127:2. The deprivation of sleep here symbolizes a restless pursuit of malevolence, contrasting with the peace granted to those who follow God's ways. The phrase "make someone fall" can be connected to the broader biblical theme of stumbling blocks, as warned against inLeviticus 19:14 and further elaborated by Jesus inMatthew 18:6, where causing others to sin is severely condemned. This reflects the moral responsibility individuals have towards one another, highlighting the antithesis of love and community that the wicked embody.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The WickedThis verse refers to those who are characterized by evil actions and intentions. In the context of Proverbs, the wicked are often contrasted with the righteous, highlighting the moral and ethical divide between those who follow God's wisdom and those who do not.
2.
SolomonTraditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon is known for his wisdom. He provides these teachings as guidance for living a life that honors God.
3.
The Path of WisdomWhile not directly mentioned in this verse, the broader context of
Proverbs 4 contrasts the path of wisdom with the path of wickedness, urging the reader to choose the former.
Teaching Points
The Nature of WickednessWickedness is not just an occasional act but a consuming lifestyle that disrupts peace and rest.
The Importance of Guarding One's HeartAs believers, we must be vigilant in guarding our hearts against the influence of evil, recognizing that sin can become a consuming force.
The Contrast with Righteous LivingThe righteous find peace and rest in God, contrasting with the restless pursuit of evil by the wicked.
The Consequences of SinSin leads to a lack of true rest and fulfillment, highlighting the need for repentance and turning towards God.
The Call to Choose WisdomProverbs urges us to choose the path of wisdom, which leads to life and peace, over the path of wickedness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Proverbs 4:16?
2.How does Proverbs 4:16 describe the behavior of the wicked?
3.What actions can we take to avoid the path of the wicked?
4.How does Proverbs 4:16 connect with Psalm 1 about the righteous path?
5.What practical steps help us resist temptation and avoid wickedness?
6.How can we encourage others to seek righteousness over wickedness?
7.What does Proverbs 4:16 reveal about the nature of wickedness in human behavior?
8.How does Proverbs 4:16 challenge our understanding of moral responsibility?
9.Why is the concept of restlessness significant in Proverbs 4:16?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 4?
11.What does the Bible teach about managing time?
12.Proverbs 16:4 states God made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for a day of disaster--doesn't this suggest a divine origin for evil, conflicting with the idea of a just and loving God?
13.In Psalm 94:9, it says God hears and sees all; why then do injustices appear to persist unchecked in our world?
14.What are the seven deadly sins?What Does Proverbs 4:16 Mean
They cannot sleepProverbs 4:16 opens, “For they cannot sleep….” The verse describes a real, observable condition: the wicked are so driven by sin that even the natural rhythm of rest is disrupted. This is not poetic overstatement but a literal statement of their inner turmoil.
•Isaiah 57:20-21 similarly pictures the wicked as “like the tossing sea, which cannot rest,” showing that restlessness is the normal state of an unrepentant heart.
•Psalm 36:4 notes, “Even on his bed he plots evil,” illustrating how sin invades the night hours.
• The contrast isPsalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep,” promised to the righteous who trust the Lord.
The point: lack of rest is a spiritual symptom, revealing separation from God.
Unless they do evilThe next phrase, “unless they do evil,” exposes the craving that fuels this sleeplessness. Sin has become the condition for their sense of normalcy.
•Micah 2:1 portrays the same attitude: “Woe to those who devise iniquity… when morning dawns, they carry it out.”
•John 3:19 explains the root: “People loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.”
•Romans 3:12-15 catalogs the person who “rushes into ruin,” underscoring how ingrained the impulse is.
Their very peace depends on doing wrong; evil is the drug that quiets their conscience—temporarily.
They are deprived of slumberRepetition in the verse—“they are deprived of slumber”—strengthens the warning. The Holy Spirit doubles the imagery to show that restlessness is both cause and consequence.
•Job 15:20 says, “All his days the wicked man suffers torment…,” confirming that the distress is lifelong.
•Ecclesiastes 5:12 notes the reverse: “The sleep of a laborer is sweet,” highlighting how righteousness protects rest.
God designed sleep as a daily gift (Psalm 127:2), so forfeiting it is a tangible loss that sinners choose.
Until they make someone fallThe final phrase, “until they make someone fall,” reveals that wickedness is never content to remain private; it seeks company.
•Proverbs 1:10-16 warns against sinners who say, “Come with us…,” showing the evangelistic nature of evil.
•Romans 1:32 describes those who “approve of those who practice” sin, displaying solidarity in wrongdoing.
•2 Peter 2:14 calls false teachers “accursed children” who “never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable.”
Causing another’s downfall becomes the goal that finally eases their restlessness—an indictment of sin’s destructiveness.
summaryProverbs 4:16 paints a literal portrait of the wicked: restless, addicted to wrongdoing, forfeiting God-given sleep, and driven to drag others down. The verse warns believers to avoid such a path and invites us to treasure the restful peace God grants to those who walk in righteousness.
(16)
For they sleep not. . .--The practice of evil has become as it were a second nature to them, they cannot live without it.
Verse 16. - This verse exhibits the extreme depravity and debasement into which "the wicked" (
r'shaim) and "the evil" (
raim) of ver. 14 have fallen. Their sins are not sins of frailty, but arise from premeditation and from their insatiable desire to commit wickedness. Sin has become to them a kind of second nature, and, unless they indulge in it, sleep is banished from their eyes.
They sleep not;lo-yish'nu, future of
yashan, "to fall asleep;" the future here being used for the present, as is frequently the case in the Proverbs, and denoting a permanent condition or habit.
Unless they cause some to fall;i.e. "unless they have betrayed others into sin," taking the verb in an ethical sense (Zockler), or, which is preferable, owing to ver. 16
a, unless they have done them some injury (Mercerus); Vulgate,
nisi supplantaverint. For the Khetib
yik'shulu, kal, which would mean "unless they have stumbled or fallen," the Keri substitutes the hiph.
yak'shihi "unless they have caused some to fall." The hiph. is found without any object, as here, in
2 Chronicles 25:8). (On the verb
khasal, from which it is derived, see ch. 4:12.) With the statement of the verse we may compare David's complaint of the persistent persecution of his enemies (
Psalm 59:15), "If they be not satisfied, then will they stay all night" (margin). A similar construction to the one before us occurs in Virgil: "Et si non aliqua nocuisses, mortuus esses" - "And had you not, by some means or other done him an injury, you would have died" ('Eclog.,' 3:15); cf. also Juvenal: "Ergo non aliter poterit dormire; quibusdam somnum rixa facit" - "Therefore, not otherwise, would he have slept; contention to some produces sleep." Hitzig rejects vers. 16 and 17 against all manuscript authority.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Forכִּ֤י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthey cannotלֹ֣א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nosleepיִֽ֭שְׁנוּ(yiš·nū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3462:To be slack, languid, sleep, to grow old, stale, inveterateunlessאִם־(’im-)Conjunction
Strong's 518:Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, notthey do evil,יָרֵ֑עוּ(yā·rê·‘ū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7489:To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, badthey are deprivedוְֽנִגְזְלָ֥ה(wə·niḡ·zə·lāh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1497:To pluck off, to flay, strip, robof slumberשְׁ֝נָתָ֗ם(nā·ṯām)Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8142:Sleepuntilאִם־(’im-)Conjunction
Strong's 518:Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, notthey make someone fall,יַכְשִֽׁילוּ׃(yaḵ·šî·lū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3782:To totter, waver, to falter, stumble, faint, fall
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 4:16 For they don't sleep unless they do (Prov. Pro Pr) 
