The Meaning of Proverbs 4:15 Explained

Proverbs 4:15

KJV: Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

YLT: Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.

Darby: avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.

ASV: Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Avoid  it, pass  not by it, turn  from it, and pass away. 

What does Proverbs 4:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 4:10-27 - Guide-Posts On The Way Of Life
One or two sentences stand out in this section, demanding special attention. The path of the just, etc., Proverbs 4:18. We may compare this beautiful similitude with 2 Samuel 23:4. In the East, where the heavens are for the most part free of cloud, the steadily increasing light of any day to perfect noontide glory is the ordinary experience. Let us so live that the path of our life may become ever more radiant and beneficent in its heat and light.
Keep thy heart, etc., Proverbs 4:23. "Above all keeping," margin. The gates of the heart need careful scrutiny. When we are careless, thoughts creep in with malign intent. We should imitate the good Nehemiah 13:19. Ask that pure and holy angels may stand sentry as at the gates of pearl, Revelation 21:12. If you think right, you will live right.
Ponder the path, etc., Proverbs 4:26. "Weigh carefully." Act in haste and repent at leisure! Ask God to keep you back from presumptuous sins; and bear in mind the wise exhortation of Ecclesiastes 5:2. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 4

1  persuades to wisdom
14  and to show wickedness
20  He exhorts to sanctification

What do the individual words in Proverbs 4:15 mean?

Avoid it not do travel on it Turn away from it and pass on
פְּרָעֵ֥הוּ אַל־ תַּעֲבָר־ בּ֑וֹ שְׂטֵ֖ה מֵעָלָ֣יו וַעֲבֽוֹר

פְּרָעֵ֥הוּ  Avoid  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַע 
Sense: to lead, act as leader.
תַּעֲבָר־  do  travel 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בּ֑וֹ  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
שְׂטֵ֖ה  Turn  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שָׂטָה  
Sense: to turn aside, go aside, turn, decline.
מֵעָלָ֣יו  from  it 
Parse: Preposition-m, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וַעֲבֽוֹר  and  pass  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.