The Meaning of Proverbs 4:18 Explained

Proverbs 4:18

KJV: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

YLT: And the path of the righteous is as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,

Darby: But the path of the righteous is as the shining light, going on and brightening until the day be fully come.

ASV: But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the path  of the just  [is] as the shining  light,  that shineth  more  and more unto the perfect  day. 

What does Proverbs 4:18 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 4:18 mean?

But the path of the just [is] like sun the shining ever brighter that shines unto perfect the day
וְאֹ֣רַח צַ֭דִּיקִים כְּא֣וֹר נֹ֑גַהּ הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָ֝א֗וֹר עַד־ נְכ֥וֹן הַיּֽוֹם

וְאֹ֣רַח  But  the  path 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹרַח  
Sense: way, path.
צַ֭דִּיקִים  of  the  just 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
כְּא֣וֹר  [is]  like  sun 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
נֹ֑גַהּ  the  shining 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נׄגַהּ  
Sense: brightness.
הוֹלֵ֥ךְ  ever  brighter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וָ֝א֗וֹר  that  shines 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
עַד־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
נְכ֥וֹן  perfect 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
הַיּֽוֹם  the  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.