Proverbs 9:15 Meaning and Explanation
“To call passengers who go right on their ways:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Folly calls out to those traveling the straight path, attempting to divert them from their course.
The Context of Proverbs 9:15
Folly targets those on the right path, trying to call them away from their course.
What Does Proverbs 9:15 Mean?
The 'passengers' are those going 'right on their ways'—traveling straight, on a righteous or chosen path. Folly does not target those already lost; she targets those making progress, those committed to a direction. Her goal is to call them aside, to divert them from the right way. This is the subtlety of folly: she does not usually attack from outside the path but whispers from alongside it, suggesting an alternate route.
The word 'call' echoes wisdom's calling in verse 3, but the intent is opposite. Wisdom calls to those who know they lack and need instruction. Folly calls to those who are already on a good path, trying to seduce them away from it. This is temptation in its classic form: not toward obvious evil but toward an attractive detour from the good.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 9:15
What does Proverbs 9:15 mean?
Folly calls out to those traveling the straight path, attempting to divert them from their course.
What is the context of Proverbs 9:15?
Folly targets those on the right path, trying to call them away from their course.