21:4

This proverb uses three figures of speech to describe the pride of a wicked person.

4a Haughty eyes and a proud heart

4b —the guides of the wicked—are sin!

The overall meaning is that pride is sinful. It also results in a wicked person doing sinful things.

21:4a

Haughty eyes and a proud heart: In Hebrew, these two phrases are literally “height of eyes” and “wide of heart.” Both phrases are figures of speech. Here they represent the attitudes of a wicked person.

Haughty eyes: This phrase indicates a haughty and arrogant attitude. It refers to a person who looks down on others.

a proud heart: This phrase can indicate either arrogance/pride or strong ambition. It refers to a person who is overly confident in his own abilities. He also has a strong desire for greater wealth and power.

Some other ways to translate these figures of speech are:

• Keep the figures of speech or use words that are related to the words “eyes” and “heart.” For example:

A conceited look and an arrogant attitude (God’s Word)
-or-
Proud looks, proud thoughts (New Century Version)

• Translate the meaning without using figures of speech. For example:

proud and arrogant (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
look down on other people and long to be more important

21:4b

the guides of the wicked: This phrase is a metaphor that further describes the preceding phrases “haughty eyes” and “a proud heart.” There are several ways to understand the variants of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as guides. The notes will discuss only the two main interpretations:

(1) The Hebrew word means “lamp.” A lamp shows a person where to go. In the same way, it is implied that a wicked person’s sinful, proud attitudes lead him to commit sinful deeds. For example:

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the lamp of the wicked—are sin. (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The Hebrew word means “uncultivated ground.” Normally, uncultivated ground produces only weeds. In the same way, a wicked person’s pride produces sin. For example:

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. (New International Version (2011))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The LXX, Vulgate, and Targum all understood the Hebrew word to mean “lamp” rather than “uncultivated ground.” The major lexicons also prefer this interpretation.

However, there is good support for both interpretations. So it is recommended that you mention interpretation (2) in a footnote. For example:

In Hebrew, the word that means “lamp” can also mean “uncultivated ground.” So another meaning for this verse is: “The arrogance and pride of a wicked person are like uncultivated/unplowed ground where weeds grow. Their proud attitudes produce sinful deeds.”

are sin: In Hebrew, there is no verb. The Berean Standard Bible and most versions that follow interpretation (1) supply a verb such as are or “is.” The New International Version (2011) supplies the verb “produce.” In some languages, it may be more meaningful to use a phrase such as “produces sin” or “leads to sin,” regardless of the interpretation chosen.

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