Proverbs 4:14 Meaning: Don't Set Foot, Don't Envy the Wicked
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]:
Meaning in one sentence
Proverbs 4:14 warns against entering the path of the wicked, but does it also tell us not to envy their success? Explore the dual meaning.
Context
Proverbs 4 is a father’s heartfelt instruction to his son. He has just urged him to hold tight to wisdom because she is his life. Then the tone shifts. The father issues a stark warning: stay away from the ways of the wicked. The surrounding verses show why, these people cannot sleep without doing harm, and they feed on violence. In contrast, the path of the righteous grows brighter until full day. This warning echoes earlier calls in Proverbs to avoid the company of sinners (1:15, 2:12). The father knows his son will face temptation, so he gives clear, urgent direction.
Key Words
The verse uses two Hebrew words for “way”: orach (path) and derekh (road). Both picture a journey, a direction your life takes. The first command uses the verb bo (to enter), like stepping onto a trail. Do not even start. The second verb, te’asher, comes from ashar. It can mean “to go straight on” or “to call blessed.” Many English translations render it as “walk”, a natural reading. But the old Greek version of the Old Testament read it as “do not envy,” and some church fathers heard a warning against envying the wicked’s apparent success. Both readings make sense. You might physically walk with them, or you might mentally admire their path. The father warns against both. One wrong step, and another can follow.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians read this verse in slightly different ways. Most English Bibles (like the WEB, KJV, and BSB) take the second verb as “walk”, a command to stay away physically. This fits the book’s repeated warnings against bad company. Other translations, especially those following the Greek Septuagint such as the Douay-Rheims, read it as “be not delighted” or “do not envy.” This tradition sees a deeper struggle: not just keeping your feet away, but guarding your heart from admiring what the wicked have. Both interpretations agree that the danger is real. One warns against companionship, the other against coveting. Together they cover the whole person.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the second command simply repeats the first, “don’t walk” like “don’t enter.” But the Hebrew verb te’asher carries a distinct nuance. It can mean “do not consider blessed” or “do not envy.” The warning may be against admiring the wicked’s prosperity, not just avoiding their company. In fact, the verse could be guarding your heart’s attitude, not only your feet’s direction. Both warnings are needed.
Living This Out
This week you might feel pressure to take a shortcut at work, or you might join in gossip because everyone else does. Or you may see someone who cuts corners and seems to get ahead, and feel a twinge of envy. The verse asks you to stop before you start. Do not set foot on that path, and do not secretly admire those who walk it. Wisdom means choosing honesty even when it costs you. Ask yourself: am I physically drifting toward their ways, or mentally envying their results? Either direction leads away from life.
Main takeaway: Avoid both the company of the wicked and the envy of their seeming success; choose the path that leads to light.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Stay away from people who do bad things. Do not even start following them. And do not wish you were like them.
For ages 9, 12
This verse gives two warnings. First, do not start hanging around people who make wrong choices, even one step can lead to more. Second, do not secretly think they are lucky or happy. Their path may look easy, but it leads to trouble. God’s path gets better and better, like the sunrise.
Questions People Ask
Does Proverbs 4:14 mean I can't be friends with non-Christians?
The verse warns against walking in the way of evil, adopting their lifestyle and values. Being a friend to someone who doesn't share your faith is different from joining them in wrongdoing. Jesus ate with sinners but did not sin. The warning is about companionship in evil, not avoiding all contact.
Why do some Bible translations say 'do not envy' instead of 'do not walk'?
The Hebrew verb 'te'asher' can mean both 'walk straight on' and 'call blessed' or 'envy.' The Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) understood it as 'do not envy,' and several early translations followed that. Modern English Bibles usually choose 'walk' based on the context, but the alternative reading has deep roots in Christian history.
What is the 'path of the wicked' in this verse?
It is a way of living that opposes God, dishonesty, violence, selfishness, and disregard for others. The imagery of a path suggests a direction you choose and follow. The father warns his son not to even begin that journey.
How can I apply this verse in daily life?
Pay attention to the small choices that start a wrong direction, a questionable joke, a little lie, a decision to spend time with people who pull you away from wisdom. Also check your heart: do you ever feel jealous of people who succeed by doing wrong? Both dangers are real.
Is this verse only for young people?
The setting is a father teaching his son, so it naturally speaks to the young. But the warning applies at any age. Temptation to join or envy the wicked does not stop when you grow up. The need to guard your steps and your heart remains lifelong.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study