💡WEB · Proverbs 16:25
What does Proverbs 16:25 mean?
"There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
— Proverbs 16:25 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Explanation
Proverbs 16:25 states a sobering truth in plain terms: a person can look at a path before them, evaluate it, and become fully convinced that it is the right way to go — and still be catastrophically wrong. The verse doesn't describe someone recklessly ignoring wisdom; it describes someone who has weighed their options and concluded, in good conscience, that a particular course is correct. Yet that inward sense of rightness offers no guarantee of a good outcome. The end result can be ruin, even death.
This proverb belongs to the larger collection traditionally attributed to Solomon, compiled for the instruction of young people entering adulthood, particularly those preparing for leadership, business, family life, and civic responsibility in ancient Israel. The book of Proverbs repeatedly contrasts human perception with divine wisdom, urging readers not to rely solely on their own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-7) but to seek counsel, fear the Lord, and test their judgments against something more reliable than personal feeling. Notably, this exact verse appears almost word-for-word earlier in Proverbs 14:12, which suggests it was a well-known saying the compilers considered important enough to repeat — a kind of proverbial refrain meant to lodge itself firmly in the reader's memory.
Theologically, the verse exposes the unreliability of unaided human judgment. It doesn't say the person's chosen path merely feels risky or uncertain — it says the path "seems right," implying full confidence and sincerity. This is a warning against trusting one
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.