Era 6 · The First KingsProverbs
Proverbs 29: Where There Is No Vision, the People Perish
Rulers and the poor, correction, prophecy and law, and the fear of man
"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (29:2).
"The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes" (29:13).
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (29:18).
"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD" (29:25–26).
| Verse | The saying | Form | What to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29:1 | He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck | Synthetic | Sudden, irreparable ruin |
| 29:2 | When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice | Antithetic | Good government and public mood; compare 28:12, 28 |
| 29:3 | Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father | Antithetic | Wasting wealth on prostitutes; compare Luke 15:30 |
| 29:4 | The king by judgment establisheth the land | Antithetic | "He that receiveth gifts" (or "a man of levies": heavy taxation) ruins it |
| 29:5 | A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net | Synthetic | Flattery as a trap |
| 29:6 | In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare | Antithetic | The righteous sing |
| 29:7 | The righteous considereth the cause of the poor | Antithetic | "Knows the rights (din) of the poor": legal justice |
| 29:8 | Scornful men bring a city into a snare | Antithetic | They "set a city aflame"; the wise turn away wrath |
| 29:9 | If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man | Synthetic | No resolution in court with a fool |
| 29:10 | The bloodthirsty hate the upright | Antithetic | Second line uncertain: the upright "seek his life" (to protect it) |
| 29:11 | A fool uttereth all his mind | Antithetic | Venting versus restraint |
| 29:12 | If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked | Synthetic | Corruption flows from the top |
| 29:13 | The poor and the deceitful man meet together | Synthetic | Oppressor and oppressed share the same light from God; compare 22:2 |
| 29:14 | The king that faithfully judgeth the poor | Synthetic | Justice for the poor as the basis of the throne (compare Psalm 72) |
| 29:15 | The rod and reproof give wisdom | Antithetic | A child left to himself shames his mother; see 13:24 |
| 29:16 | When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth | Antithetic | The righteous will see their fall |
| 29:17 | Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest | Synonymous | Discipline as investment in peace |
| 29:18 | Where there is no vision, the people perish | Antithetic | Chazon = prophetic revelation; see the passage page |
| 29:19 | A servant will not be corrected by words | Synthetic | Slavery in the ancient household; an observation of its time |
| 29:20 | Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? | Comparison | Compare 26:12 |
| 29:21 | He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child | Synthetic | Last word manon is unknown ("son"? "grief"?) |
| 29:22 | An angry man stirreth up strife | Synonymous | Compare 15:18 |
| 29:23 | A man's pride shall bring him low | Antithetic | Humility upheld by honour; compare Matthew 23:12 |
| 29:24 | Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul | Synthetic | He hears the oath-curse (Leviticus 5:1) and stays silent |
| 29:25 | The fear of man bringeth a snare | Antithetic | Trust in God frees from people-pleasing |
| 29:26 | Many seek the ruler's favour | Antithetic | Justice comes from the LORD |
| 29:27 | An unjust man is an abomination to the just | Antithetic | Mutual abhorrence; in the library's Greek file this slot also holds the Greek additions to 24:22 (the king's tongue as a sword), displaced by the reordering |
29:18 "Where there is no vision"
"Vision" (chazon) in the Hebrew Bible is a prophet's revelation (1 Samuel 3:1, "there was no open vision"; Isaiah 1:1). "Perish" (yippara) means "cast off restraint, run wild" (Exodus 32:25). So: where there is no prophetic word, the people run wild; but whoever keeps the law (torah) is happy. The verse is popularly used to mean that organizations need a plan or goal; that is an application, not its meaning. The two lines together value both prophecy and Torah as God's guidance. See the passage page.
Servants and children (29:15–21)
These sayings come from a society in which household slavery and physical discipline were normal; they describe and assume it. The site explains them historically and does not present them as endorsements of slavery or of striking children. Torah itself limited masters' power (Exodus 21:20–27; Deuteronomy 23:15–16).
What the evidence shows
- Chazon in 29:18 refers to prophetic revelation.
- Proverbs 29:18 means that organizations need goals. A popular application, not the original sense.
- The meaning of manon in 29:21 is unknown.Source: M. V. Fox, Proverbs 10–31 (Anchor Yale Bible 18B, 2009)
Continue the journey
Journey of a PassageProverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish""Where there is no vision (chazon), the people perish (yippara): but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Chazon is prophetic revelation; para means to run wild, cast off restraint.More from this lesson
Why this matters to the rest of Scripture
- "There was no open vision."
- The king who judges the poor.
- "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased."