Proverbs 16:25There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon reflecting on failed decisions he's witnessed in court cases and personal relationships, Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: urgent warning from someone who's seen too many people destroy themselves
The original word
yashar (יָשָׁר) — straight, level, right in one's own eyes, appearing correct
Why it matters
Solomon himself would later follow this proverb to its tragic end with his 700 wives and idol worship
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 16:25
The word 'seems' is doing all the work — your feelings can lie to you about what's right
Common misconceptionPeople think this means all human reasoning is bad. It's specifically about trusting your own perspective without outside wisdom or God's guidance.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 16:25
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 16:25 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 16:25 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include deception, wisdom, folly. Notable phrases: way which seems right; leads to death.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 16:25 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.