Proverbs 18:3 Meaning: The Company Wickedness Keeps
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame--reproach.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Meaning in one sentence
Does Proverbs 18:3 describe the wicked person as contemptuous or contemptible? Both: sin brings its own companions.
Context
Proverbs 18 sits near the heart of the wisdom collection. The chapter opens with warnings about isolating yourself from good counsel and the fool who only wants to hear his own voice. Then verse 3 arrives with a sharp observation: wickedness travels with companions. The verses that follow turn to the power of words, how speech can be deep water or a trap for the soul. This is not abstract teaching; it is practical wisdom about the kind of person you become by what you allow in your life.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this proverb. First, rasha, “wicked.” This is not a person who makes occasional mistakes. It describes someone in active rebellion against God, guilty and bent toward what is wrong.
The second word is buz, “contempt.” This is the sneer that looks down on others, on wisdom, on anything sacred. In the Psalms, the godly pray to be rescued from the contempt of the proud. Where wickedness sets up house, contempt moves in as a roommate. The wicked person scoffs at what is good, and eventually, others scoff at him.
The third word pair is qalon (“shame, disgrace”) and cherpah (“reproach”). Qalon describes a condition of dishonor that clings to a person. Cherpah is the public taunt that follows. The Hebrew grammar lets this verse be read both ways: the wicked person spreads contempt, and he also collects disgrace. The proverb does not choose; it simply states that where wickedness goes, these things follow.
How Christians Read This Verse
Matthew Henry (Reformed) highlighted both sides: wicked people are scornful toward others, but they also bring shame upon themselves, “as soon as ever sin entered, shame followed it.” The Baptist commentator John Gill agreed, noting that the wicked person may become a scoffer, yet also that such a person will “rise to everlasting shame and contempt.”
Anglican scholars like the Cambridge Bible for Schools read it as a natural consequence: “As shame is inseparable from wickedness, so is reproach from ignominy.” The Methodist Adam Clarke added a striking observation: “A wicked man is despised even by the wicked.”
Both interpretations arise from the same Hebrew text. What unites them is the conviction that wickedness never stands alone.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse and assume it only describes how others will look down on the wicked, a kind of karma. In fact, the Hebrew also points to the wicked person as the source of contempt, sneering at God and neighbor. The verse describes both the poison he spreads and the poison that eventually poisons him. Sin is not just something you get caught for; it changes who you become.
Living This Out
This week, you might face a moment when contempt feels natural. Someone dismisses your faith, cuts you off, or treats you as foolish. Your first instinct may be to return scorn for scorn. That is exactly the pattern this verse warns about. Wickedness is contagious. Let the proverb sit with you before you speak. You can be the one who breaks the cycle.
And if you notice contempt rising in your own heart, toward a neighbor, a family member, a public figure, ask yourself what company you are keeping. The verse is not just about “bad people over there.” It invites you to examine your own doorway.
Main takeaway: Wickedness never comes alone. Wherever it enters, contempt and disgrace follow, both from the sinner and upon the sinner.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you do something wrong, other bad things want to come along with it. Being mean makes you want to be meaner. God wants you to choose good friends and good actions so good things follow you instead.
For ages 9, 12
This proverb teaches that sin is never alone. If you let yourself act with contempt, looking down on someone, sneering at them, that attitude will spread. You will start to see the worst in everyone. And in time, people may treat you the same way. The best way to stop the cycle is to catch it early. When you feel contempt rising, ask God to help you put it down before it grows.
Questions People Ask
What does Proverbs 18:3 mean by “contempt”?
Contempt (buz in Hebrew) is the attitude of looking down on someone or something as worthless. In this verse, it is the sneering mockery that comes with wickedness, either from the wicked person toward others, or from others toward the wicked person.
Does this verse say the wicked person brings shame on himself or on others?
The Hebrew allows both readings. Many commentators see both happening: the wicked person scoffs at what is good, and that same attitude leads to his own disgrace. The proverb paints a complete picture: sin damages everything it touches, including the sinner.
What is the difference between “shame” and “disgrace” in this verse?
The Hebrew word for shame (qalon) refers to a condition of dishonor, a stain on a person’s character. Reproach (cherpah) is the public expression of that shame, the taunts and insults that follow. The two are inseparable: where there is shame, accusation will follow.
How does Proverbs 18:3 connect to the verses around it?
The chapter contrasts the path of wisdom and folly. Verse 1 warns against isolating yourself from counsel, verse 2 describes a fool who only wants to talk. Verse 3 then shows the natural outcome when wickedness takes root. The following verses (4-7) focus on the power of words, either as deep wisdom or as a trap.
Is this verse about a specific person or about sin in general?
The Hebrew word rasha can be read as “wickedness” (an abstract quality) or “a wicked person” (a concrete individual). The verse works on both levels: wickedness itself brings contempt and shame, and so does the person who lives by wickedness. It is a description of reality, not just a warning about one type of person.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study