Commentary - Proverbs 16:29

Bird's-eye view

This proverb provides a stark and concise diagnosis of a particular kind of sinner and the destructive nature of his influence. It identifies the "man of violence" not merely as an agent of chaos acting alone, but as a missionary of mayhem, a recruiter for the way of destruction. He does not simply walk his own ruinous path; he actively entices his neighbor to join him. The verse breaks down the anatomy of corrupting influence: it begins with a character defined by violence, proceeds through the method of seductive enticement, and ends with leading an associate down a path that is the antithesis of all that is good, righteous, and life-giving. It is a warning against both being such a man and listening to such a man.

At its heart, this is a proverb about leadership and fellowship. Every man is leading someone, even if it is just himself, and he is leading them somewhere. The man of violence, the man committed to coercion and getting his own way by force, leads others into ways that are "not good", a classic biblical understatement for ways that are shot through with sin, death, and damnation. It stands as a direct contrast to the call of Wisdom, who cries out in the streets offering the path of life. The man of violence offers a competing call, a siren song that promises gain or excitement but delivers only ruin.

Outline

Context In Proverbs

Proverbs 16 is a chapter rich with contrasts between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked, the wisdom of God and the folly of man. The chapter opens with the sovereignty of God over the plans of man (Prov 16:1, 9) and the purity of His judgment (Prov 16:2). It repeatedly contrasts the path that leads to life with the path that leads to death. For example, just a few verses earlier, we are told, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Prov 16:25). Our verse, 16:29, fits squarely within this thematic structure. It provides a specific example of how someone ends up on that way of death: he is often led there by a companion. The "man of violence" is a prime example of the wicked man whose lips are a scorching fire (Prov 16:27) and who sows strife (Prov 16:28). He is the embodiment of the path that seems right, offering a shortcut to power or gain, but which ultimately leads to destruction.

Key Issues

The Devil's Evangelism

There is an evangelistic impulse hardwired into the cosmos. Those who have found the way of life want to share it. But the same is true for those on the broad road to destruction. Misery loves company, as the saying goes, but it is more than that. Sin loves converts. The man of violence is not content to be violent on his own; he needs a gang, a posse, a conspiracy. He needs a neighbor to validate his choices. So he "entices" him.

This enticement is a form of persuasion, a seduction. It is the dark parody of the Great Commission. Instead of "go and make disciples," the man of violence says, "come and make accomplices." He paints a picture of the "way that is not good" as though it were very good indeed. It is the way of strength, of taking what you want, of freedom from the constraints of God's law. It is the same lie the serpent told Eve: God is holding out on you, and this other path is the key to becoming like Him. This proverb warns us that the world is full of such missionaries from hell, and they are often closer than we think. They are our "neighbors."

Verse by Verse Commentary

29 A man of violence...

The Hebrew here is ish chamas. This is not just a man who gets into a fistfight now and then. Chamas refers to violence, but it carries the broader sense of wrong, injustice, cruelty, and oppression. It is the word used in Genesis 6:11 to describe the world before the flood: "the earth was filled with violence (chamas)." So, a "man of violence" is a man whose character is defined by a commitment to using unjust force to impose his will on the world. He is a bully, an oppressor, a man who solves his problems with intimidation and coercion. He does not trust in God's provision or timing; he trusts in the strength of his own arm. He is the archetypal worldly man, the son of Cain, who builds his city through force and bloodshed. This is the source code of his character; everything else flows from it.

...entices his neighbor...

The man of violence is a recruiter. The word for "entices" has the sense of seducing, persuading, or fooling. He makes the path of violence seem attractive. He might appeal to his neighbor's greed: "Help me with this score, and we'll both be rich." He might appeal to his pride: "Are you going to let them talk to you like that? You need to show them who's boss." He might appeal to his fear: "You're either with us or against us." This is the essence of peer pressure. It is the call to abandon the straight and narrow path of wisdom for the crooked and dangerous path of folly. Notice also that he targets his neighbor. Sinful influence is most potent when it comes from someone close to us, someone we know and are inclined to trust. The enemy is rarely a stranger with a pitchfork; he is often a familiar face with a friendly invitation.

...And leads him in a way that is not good.

Here we have a magnificent piece of biblical understatement. A "way that is not good" is not a path with a few inconvenient potholes. It is the way of rebellion against the living God. It is the way of death (Prov 16:25). It is the way of folly, strife, and ultimately, judgment. Every step down this path takes a man further away from God, who is the source of all goodness, and deeper into the realm of darkness. The man of violence presents himself as a leader, a guide, a man who knows the shortcuts. But he is a blind guide leading the blind, and both are headed for the ditch (Matt 15:14). The path of violence and oppression is fundamentally "not good" because it is a rejection of the created order. God made the world to run on faithfulness, justice, and mercy. The man of violence tries to make it run on force, and the result is always wreckage and ruin.

Application

This proverb forces two fundamental questions upon us. First, are we allowing ourselves to be enticed? And second, are we the ones doing the enticing?

We are all surrounded by "men of violence," though they may not carry clubs. They are the voices in our culture, on our screens, and sometimes in our own circles, who tell us that the way to get ahead is through intimidation, manipulation, and self-assertion. They entice us to cut ethical corners in business, to use harsh words to win an argument online, to harbor bitterness, or to join in with a scoffing and cynical crowd. We must cultivate a righteous suspicion of any path that promises an easy victory at the expense of what is right. We must have the wisdom to see that the "way that is not good" never delivers on its promises.

More searchingly, we must ask if we are ever the man of violence. Do we pressure our friends to compromise their standards? Do we use anger or emotional leverage to get our way in our families? Do we lead others into gossip, slander, or foolishness? Every time we encourage someone, explicitly or implicitly, to step off the path of righteousness, we are playing the part of the ish chamas. We are acting as an agent of the evil one.

The gospel provides the only true deliverance from this entire dynamic. The ultimate Man of Violence was Satan, who enticed our first parents down a way that was not good. The consequence was that all of humanity was led down that path to death. But Jesus Christ is the ultimate Good Shepherd who came to lead us out of that dark way. He did not entice us with lies, but called us with the truth. And on the cross, He absorbed the full and final measure of all chamas, all violence and injustice, in His own body. He took the evil we deserved so that He could lead us in the "paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Ps 23:3). He is the Way, and He is altogether good.