The Meaning of Proverbs 1:17 Explained

Proverbs 1:17

KJV: Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

YLT: Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.

Darby: For in vain the net is spread in the sight of anything which hath wings.

ASV: For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Surely in vain  the net  is spread  in the sight  of any bird. 

What does Proverbs 1:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 1:1-19 - "the Beginning Of Knowledge"
Notice the perfect balance of each clause, and the duplication of the one thought in the two clauses of each verse.
Wisdom as used in this book is more than intellectual learning or cleverness. It represents a moral quality, the result of a pure and a true life. We are conscious that many simple-minded people, who have little enough book-learning, are remarkable for sagacious advice, insight into character, the wise reading of events, an intuitive knowledge-all based on the fear of God. The headlines of Scotch copy-books used to be taken from this book. Certain it is that the young who ponder and practice these maxims can hardly fail of a successful career. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 1

1  The use of the proverbs
7  An exhortation to fear God, and believe his word
10  to avoid the enticing of sinners
20  Wisdom complains of her contempt
24  She threatens her contemners

What do the individual words in Proverbs 1:17 mean?

Surely in vain is spread the net in the sight of any owner bird
כִּֽי־ חִ֭נָּם מְזֹרָ֣ה הָרָ֑שֶׁת בְּ֝עֵינֵ֗י כָל־ בַּ֥עַל‪‬ כָּנָֽף

כִּֽי־  Surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
חִ֭נָּם  in  vain 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
מְזֹרָ֣ה  is  spread 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, feminine singular
Root: זָרָה 
Sense: to scatter, fan, cast away, winnow, disperse, compass, spread, be scattered, be dispersed.
הָרָ֑שֶׁת  the  net 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: רֶשֶׁת  
Sense: net.
בְּ֝עֵינֵ֗י  in  the  sight 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
כָל־  of  any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בַּ֥עַל‪‬  owner 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בָּעַל 
Sense: owner, husband, lord.
כָּנָֽף  bird 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: כָּנָף  
Sense: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 1:17?

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