The Meaning of Proverbs 6:18 Explained

Proverbs 6:18

KJV: An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

YLT: A heart devising thoughts of vanity -- Feet hasting to run to evil --

Darby: a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that are swift in running to mischief;

ASV: A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An heart  that deviseth  wicked  imaginations,  feet  that be swift  in running  to mischief, 

What does Proverbs 6:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 6:1-19 - Avoid Suretyship And Sloth
A young man, being entreated by his friend to go bond for him, consents, in an easy-going way to become his surety. He promises to be responsible for the other's debt. From that moment he resembles a roe caught by a hunter or a bird snared by a fowler. If any shall have enmeshed himself in an obligation of this kind he is exhorted to spare no pains, to stand on no false pride, but to go with all urgency to the man for whom he has pledged his credit, and get released at all cost. If we can afford to be surety, we can afford to lend the money ourselves. If we cannot do the former, it is weak and foolish to do the latter.
The ants swarm in the woods and fields, and rebuke our laziness and thriftlessness. They work day and might, storing their galleries with food, building mounds which relatively to the size of the builders are three or four times larger than the Pyramids. In sickness they nurse one another; in the winter they feed on their supplies. Learn from the ceaseless industry of Nature, and do something worthy before sundown! [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 6

1  against indebtedness
6  idleness
12  and mischievousness
16  seven things detestable to God
20  the blessings of obedience
25  the mischief of unfaithfulness

What do the individual words in Proverbs 6:18 mean?

A heart that devises plans wicked Feet that are swift in running to evil
לֵ֗ב חֹ֭רֵשׁ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת אָ֑וֶן רַגְלַ֥יִם מְ֝מַהֲר֗וֹת לָר֥וּץ לָֽרָעָה‪‬

לֵ֗ב  A  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
חֹ֭רֵשׁ  that  devises 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת  plans 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מַחֲשָׁבָה  
Sense: thought, device.
אָ֑וֶן  wicked 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
רַגְלַ֥יִם  Feet 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
מְ֝מַהֲר֗וֹת  that  are  swift 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, feminine plural
Root: מָהַר  
Sense: (Qal) to hasten.
לָר֥וּץ  in  running 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
לָֽרָעָה‪‬  to  evil 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.