Proverbs 29:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

NIV: Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

NASB: The fear of man brings a snare, But one who trusts in the Lord will be protected.

CSB: The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.

NLT: Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

KJV: The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

NKJV: The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

The Bible tells us often to "fear" God; that means more than simply to reverence Him, but it does not imply terror or panic. The fear of God is a virtue, and it leads to truth (Proverbs 1:7; 8:32–36; 15:33). However, the Hebrew root word used here in relation to fearing man refers specifically to physical "trembling" which comes through fright or despair (Genesis 27:33; Judges 7:3). Being afraid of people, or giving men the respect and obedience we owe God, leads to deceit, entanglements, and ruin (Proverbs 1:32–33; 29:5). Instead, we should remember that man's power is nothing compared to that of the Lord (Psalm 56:11).

Having more terror about other people than trust in God traps us in various ways. Fearing men, Abraham lied—twice—about his relationship with Sarah (Genesis 12:11–13; 20:2, 11). Peter famously lied and denied Jesus out of fear of being captured (Matthew 26:69–75). Countless Israeli soldiers were more afraid of Goliath than they were reliant on God, until a young shepherd stepped forward (1 Samuel 17:10–11, 45–49). Israel resisted God's call to conquer the Promised Land because they were afraid of its inhabitants (Numbers 13:31–33). Jesus' critics feared popular backlash, so they were afraid to give honest answers (Mark 11:32). Many of the Jewish leaders believed Jesus but were afraid of the Pharisees putting them out of the synagogue, meaning they would lose their social standing, so they did not express their beliefs (John 12:42–43).

Jesus instructed His disciples: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). Paul writes to Timothy: "God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7). Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. Verse 6 concludes, "So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"

Much of this passage refers to negative consequences of unwise attitudes or behavior: stubbornness leads to brokenness. Lack of self-control brings shame. Ignorant, ungodly rulers spread sin and corruption. Pride leads to humiliation. Most of these statements follow the two-part pattern established elsewhere in the book of Proverbs. The final lesson summarizes the deep difference between those who are godly and those who pursue their own desires.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.