Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Parallel translations
- WEB Evil men don’t understand justice; but those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
- BSB Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.
- NKJV Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all.
- NASB Evil people do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand everything.
- NLT Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.
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
Evil people fail to grasp justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. It links true moral understanding to knowing God.
Overview
The proverb teaches that wickedness blinds people to justice, while seeking Yahweh opens full understanding of what is right. Moral clarity flows from relationship with God, not mere intellect. This finds its fulfillment in Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and who gives understanding to those who seek Him (Colossians 2:3).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Jas 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- Ps 92:6A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
- 1 Jn 2:20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
- 1 Jn 2:27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
- John 7:17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
- Mark 4:10–13And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
- Jer 4:22For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
- Ps 25:14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
- 1 Cor 2:14–15But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Prov 15:24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
- Ps 119:100I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
- Prov 24:7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
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 28:5 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.