Proverbs 4:17 Meaning and Explanation
“For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wicked sustain themselves on wrongdoing and violence.
The Context of Proverbs 4:17
The father describes how the wicked are sustained by wrongdoing.
What Does Proverbs 4:17 Mean?
The imagery of eating bread and drinking wine—basic sustenance—applied to wickedness and violence shows that these are not occasional sins but the foundation of the wicked person's life. Just as bread and wine nourish the body, wickedness and violence nourish the wicked's existence. They live and thrive on harmful acts.
This verse emphasizes that evil is not incidental to the wicked person but central to their identity and survival. They have made a diet of wrongdoing. The contrast with the righteous, whose sustenance comes from wisdom and truth, could not be starker. The fundamental orientation of one's life determines what one consumes and becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 4:17
What does Proverbs 4:17 mean?
The wicked sustain themselves on wrongdoing and violence.
What is the context of Proverbs 4:17?
The father describes how the wicked are sustained by wrongdoing.