Proverbs 3:31 · Bible study
Proverbs 3:31 Commentary: Study, Why Not Envy the Violent?
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Proverbs 3:31 forbid envy of the violent? Discover the original Hebrew meaning, scholarly consensus, and pastoral application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Do not covet the success of a violent person, and do not imitate his methods.
- Key words: Envy (qana), violence (chamas), choose (bachar).
- Main debate: The LXX variant (whether original read 'be provoked' instead of 'choose'), but the MT is strongly supported.
- Theological theme: God's justice overturns human admiration of power; the righteous have God's secret friendship.
- Best use: A guard against worldliness and a call to trust God's ultimate judgment.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
WEB World English Bible 2000
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
KJV King James Version 1769
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No envidies al hombre injusto, ni escojas alguno de sus caminos.
Não tenhas inveja do homem violento, nem escolhas seguir algum dos caminhos dele.
Ne porte pas envie à l’ homme violent,
Eifere nicht einem Frevler nach und erwähle seiner Wege keinen;
Zijt niet nijdig over een man des gewelds, en verkies geen van zijn wegen.
Non portare invidia all’uomo violento, e non scegliere alcuna delle sue vie;
Nie zajrzyj mężowi gwałt czyniącemu, a nie obieraj żadnej drogi jego.
Не соревнуй человеку, поступающему насильственно, и не избирай ни одного из путей его;
不可 嫉妒 強暴的 人，也不可 選擇 他所行的 路。
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Proverbs 3:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Barnes calls this verse 'a protest against the tendency to worship success.' Commentators agree it warns the wise not to envy the prosperity of those who gain wealth by violence or oppression. Gill observes that the man of violence may appear happy in his riches, but his end is bad; therefore one should not look on his fortune with an envious eye. Cambridge connects the verse to Psalm 73, where the psalmist almost slipped when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. Keil and Delitzsch note that the man who uses violence often gains authority and resources, yet he is an abomination to God. The two Hebrew verbs, qana ('be jealous/envious') and bachar ('choose'), together forbid both coveting his lot and taking pleasure in his methods. The consensus is that envy is prohibited because the violent man's success is temporary and cursed, and to envy him risks adopting his destructive conduct.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The command is clear: do not envy the violent man or adopt his ways. This is not disputed among Christian interpreters.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'violence' (chamas) | All Christian traditions see this as referring to someone who uses force or oppression to gain advantage. | Some interpreters focus on physical violence, while others include any form of unjust treatment (fraud, slander, exploitation). Both see the prohibition as broad. |
| Why the command matters | Christians agree that envy of the violent is dangerous because it leads to sin and because the violent person is under God's judgment. | Some emphasize the temporal blessings of the righteous (Cambridge), while others stress the eternal consequences of wickedness (Gill). Both affirm that God's ultimate justice makes envy pointless. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Proverbs 3:31 sits in a section of commands about neighbourly love (3:27, 30) that then turn to warnings against aligning with the wicked (3:31, 35). The 'man of violence' (chamas) was a known figure in ancient Israel: a powerful individual who used force, fraud or oppression to gain wealth and status. Prophets like Amos and Isaiah condemned such men, and wisdom literature repeatedly contrasts their apparent success with the sure reward of the righteous.
The word 'envy' (qana) carries a sense of feverish desire; it is the same root used for divine jealousy. The command not to envy is common in Psalms (e.g., Psalm 37:1, 73:3) and addresses a real temptation: the wicked often prosper while the righteous struggle. The second verb, 'choose' (bachar), can also mean 'take pleasure in' (Keil and Delitzsch), so the verse forbids even delighting in the violent man's ways.
A textual variant in the Septuagint reads 'do not be provoked' instead of 'choose', but the Masoretic Text is well supported. The surrounding verses (3:32, 35) give the theological reason: God abhors the perverse but shares His secret friendship with the upright. The curse rests on the wicked, blessing on the righteous. The historical context thus presents a teacher warning a student not to be seduced by outward success, but to trust that God's favour ultimately distinguishes the righteous from the violent.
Textual Notes
The Masoretic Text reads tivchar ('you choose'). The Septuagint and a few scholars suggest the original may have been titchar ('you are provoked'), as in Psalm 37:1,7. Keil and Delitzsch defend the MT reading, noting that bachar can express pleasure in something, and the phrase 'in all his ways' fits this meaning. The variant does not change the essential command.
Reception History
This verse has been used throughout Christian history to counsel against covetousness and the admiration of wrongdoers. The Geneva Bible notes warn against envying the wicked. Matthew Henry expands on the folly of envying the oppressor. In the Wesleyan tradition, it is a caution against being drawn into worldly success. The verse echoes in hymns about trust and rest in God's providence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The forbidden emotion: Envy of the violent man's prosperity (v31a)
- The forbidden person: The man of violence, one who uses force or oppression to get ahead
- The forbidden path: Choosing his ways, imitating his methods or attitudes
Five-point outline
- Recognise the temptation: The violent often succeed in the world's eyes (Psalm 73:3)
- Understand God's view: The violent are an abomination to God, not enviable (v32)
- Reject the methods: Do not adopt his behaviour, even if it works (v31b)
- Embrace the alternative: Walk in uprightness, which brings God's friendship and blessing (v32, 33)
- Trust the outcome: The wicked face judgment; the righteous inherit glory (v35)
Illustration hooks
- A coworker who lies to get a promotion and receives praise from the boss, the temptation to wish you had done the same
- A student who cheats and earns top marks while others work honestly, the pull to envy his short-term gain
- A public figure who bullies opponents and yet gains wealth and influence, the subtle attraction to that kind of power
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God is against violence, why do violent people seem to prosper?
- How can I tell if I am envying someone's success without realising it?
- What does 'choosing his ways' look like in practical, everyday decisions?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse confronts a struggle many of us face: the gut-level pull to admire people who succeed by force, fraud, or oppression. It invites us to trust God's perspective on success and justice.
Discussion questions
- What does the word 'envy' mean in this verse? How is it different from simply noticing someone else's success?
- Why would anyone envy a 'man of violence'? What makes his lot seem attractive?
- Read Proverbs 3:27, 35 as a unit. How do verses 27, 30 prepare the ground for the command in verse 31?
- The verse says 'choose none of his ways.' Can you think of a modern example where adopting a violent or shady method seems like the only way to get ahead?
- How does the promise of God's friendship with the upright (v32) help fight envy of the wicked?
- What practical steps can your group take to cultivate contentment and trust in God's timing?
- How does Jesus' teaching about loving enemies and storing treasures in heaven deepen the wisdom of this proverb?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 37:1 | By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. |
| Psalms 37:7 | Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. |
| Psalms 37:9 | For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. |
| Psalms 73:3 | For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. |
| Proverbs 1:15 | my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, |
| Proverbs 1:18 | but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. |
| Proverbs 2:12 | to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things, |
| Proverbs 2:15 | who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that envy toward those in power comes from the allure of that power itself. He believes most people would become tyrants if they possessed such authority.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that wealth is actually a trust from God to be used for good rather than kept for oneself. He also says that true honor comes from a close relationship with God through righteousness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that wisdom’s true reward is higher than any worldly gain even if the wicked appear more prosperous. You may find comfort knowing this greater reward belongs to you.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes issue a two-part warning: do not envy the wicked for their apparent prosperity, and do not adopt their practices. The danger is that envy can lead to copying their sinful behavior, so the reader must guard against both the inward desire and the outward choice.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill warns that envying the oppressor's wealth is misguided, since his prosperity comes from injustice and his end will be bad. Choosing his methods to gain riches would cost your soul. The better choice is Christ and his ways.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson Fausset Brown notes that a man of mischief ends up in trouble. This shows that those who do evil will face bad outcomes. You can trust that God will not let such people succeed.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that the violent man may appear successful and powerful, but he must never be envied or admired. God holds the crooked in abhorrence, while He shares His most intimate friendship only with the upright. The Hebrew word for "secret" points to a close, personal communion God grants the righteous.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the reason not to envy the violent man is the secret, intimate friendship God shares with the upright—a bond of confidential closeness that surpasses any outward success. This divine intimacy stands in direct contrast to God's abhorrence of
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that avoiding envy of the oppressor means refusing to follow his harmful ways. He believes the Lord disapproves of wicked people but is close to the righteous.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Envy not - For his impunity and success.