Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
Parallel translations
- WEB It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
- KJV Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
- NKJV Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.
- NASB Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And one who hurries his footsteps errs.
- NLT Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Zeal without knowledge and reckless haste lead one astray. Eagerness must be guided by wisdom.
Overview
This proverb warns that desire or zeal lacking knowledge is not good, and that hasty feet miss the way. Enthusiasm uninformed by wisdom causes error and stumbling. The verse commends thoughtful, well-directed action over impulsive zeal, a balance the New Testament also urges, lest zeal be 'not according to knowledge' (Rom. 10:2) and so go astray from God's truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Prov 21:5The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
- Phil 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- Prov 29:20Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Eccl 7:9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
- Isa 28:16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
- Hos 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
- John 16:3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
- Rom 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
- Prov 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Prov 28:22A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.
- Prov 1:16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
- Eccl 12:9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
- Prov 28:20A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
- Prov 25:8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Prov 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
- Isa 27:11When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
- Job 31:5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 19:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.