As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
Parallel translations
- WEB Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
- BSB Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
- NKJV Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
- NASB Like a maniac who shoots Flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
- NLT Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
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
A reckless man hurling firebrands and deadly arrows pictures a dangerous fool. Careless harm is no laughing matter.
Overview
This verse sets up the comparison completed in verse 19, likening a deceiver to a madman scattering lethal weapons. The imagery stresses how destructive thoughtless action can be. It prepares to unmask the one who hides cruelty behind the excuse of jest.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Prov 25:18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
- Isa 50:11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
- Prov 7:23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
- Gen 49:23The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 26:18 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.