Proverbs 4:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Do not deviate from the straight path, and stay far from evil.
The Context of Proverbs 4:27
The father concludes with a final call to stay on the straight path and avoid evil.
What Does Proverbs 4:27 Mean?
The final instruction returns to the theme of staying on the path. Right and left represent all possible deviations. The straight way is the only way; turning in either direction is turning from the path of wisdom. This is not legalism but realism about moral life: there is one direction that leads to life, and many directions that lead away from it.
The final phrase 'remove thy foot from evil' returns to the fundamental divide between the righteous and the wicked established earlier. All that has been taught—the pursuit of wisdom, the guarding of the heart, the focusing of the eyes, the pondering of the path—serves this ultimate purpose: to keep oneself far from evil and firmly on the way of righteousness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 4:27
What does Proverbs 4:27 mean?
Do not deviate from the straight path, and stay far from evil.
What is the context of Proverbs 4:27?
The father concludes with a final call to stay on the straight path and avoid evil.