Proverbs 1:11

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 1:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
Proverbs 1:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Murder and robbery are given as specific illustrations. lay wait . . . lurk privily--express an effort and hope for successful concealment. swallow . . . grave--utterly destroy the victim and traces of the crime (Num 16:33; Psa 55:15). Abundant rewards of villainy are promised as the fruits of this easy and safe course.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The temptation against which the teacher seeks to guard his disciple is that of joining a band of highway robbers. The “vain men” who gathered around Jephthah Judges 11:3, the lawless or discontented who came to David in Adullam 1 Samuel 22:2, the bands of robbers who infested every part of the country in the period of the New Testament, and against whom every Roman governor had to wage incessant war, show how deeply rooted the evil was in Palestine. Compare the Psalms 10:7, note; Psalms 10:10 note. Without cause - Better, in vain; most modern commentators join the words with “innocent,” and interpret them after Job 1:9. The evil-doers deride their victims as being righteous “in vain.” They…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“let us lay: Pro 1:16, Pro 12:6, Pro 30:14; Psa 56:6, Psa 64:5, Psa 64:6; Jer 5:26; Mic 7:2; Act 23:15, Act 25:3 let us lurk: Pro 1:18; Psa 10:8-10, Psa 17:12, Psa 35:7; Jer 11:19, Jer 18:18-20; Mat 26:3, Mat 26:4; Joh 15:25 Proverbs 1:12”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Of the number of wicked men who gain associates to their palliation and strengthening, they are adduced as an example whom covetousness leads to murder. 11 If they say, "Go with us, we will lurk for blood, Lie in wait for the innocent without cause; 12 Like the pit we will swallow them alive And in perfect soundness like them that go down to the grave. 13 We find all manner of precious treasure, Fill our houses with spoil. 14 Thou shalt cast thy lot amongst us, We all have only one purse." Pro 1:11 The verb ארב signifies nectere, to bind fast (from רב, close, compact), (see under Isa 25:11), and particularly (but so that it bears in itself its object without ellipse) insidias nectere =…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification