Proverbs 26:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Evil plans recoil on the one who devises them; the pit dug for others becomes their own grave.
The Context of Proverbs 26:27
The verse teaches that wickedness and harm ultimately recoil, a principle of justice woven into the moral order.
What Does Proverbs 26:27 Mean?
This is the law of reciprocity written into creation. A pit dug with intent to trap another becomes a trap for the digger himself. A stone rolled downhill at another will roll back to strike the one who set it moving. The harm intended for others returns to harm the originator.
The verse describes not magic but consequence. Evil plans require maintenance and control; when they slip beyond control, they naturally return to their source. The person who sets a trap must himself avoid it—a burden of constant vigilance that often fails. Evil tends to boomerang.
Proverbs 26:27 in the Original Language
shuv (שׁוּב), 'return'—to come back, implying circularity and inevitability in the return of harm to its source.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 26:27
What does Proverbs 26:27 mean?
Evil plans recoil on the one who devises them; the pit dug for others becomes their own grave.
What is the context of Proverbs 26:27?
The verse teaches that wickedness and harm ultimately recoil, a principle of justice woven into the moral order.