The Meaning of Proverbs 4:27 Explained

Proverbs 4:27

KJV: Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

YLT: Incline not to the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!

Darby: Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.

ASV: Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Turn  not to the right hand  nor to the left:  remove  thy foot  from evil. 

What does Proverbs 4:27 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 4:27 mean?

Not and do turn to the right or the left Remove Your foot from evil
אַֽל־ תֵּט־ יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול הָסֵ֖ר רַגְלְךָ֣ מֵרָֽע

תֵּט־  and  do  turn 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
יָמִ֥ין  to  the  right 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
וּשְׂמֹ֑אול  or  the  left 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׂמֹאל  
Sense: the left, the left hand, the left side.
הָסֵ֖ר  Remove 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
רַגְלְךָ֣  Your  foot 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
מֵרָֽע  from  evil 
Parse: Preposition, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.