Proverbs 21:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous [cometh] in the stead of the upright.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד

Transliteration

kōp̄er for-ṣaddîq rāšāʿ and-instead-of yĕšārîm bôḡēd

Grammar Details

• *kōp̄er*: masculine singular noun - ransom
• *ṣaddîq*: masculine singular adjective - righteous one
• *rāšāʿ*: masculine singular noun - wicked person
• *yĕšārîm*: masculine plural adjective - upright ones
• *bôḡēd*: qal participle masculine singular - betrayer/treacherous one

Word Meanings

• *kōp̄er*: ransom/payment/substitute
• *ṣaddîq*: righteous one/just person
• *rāšāʿ*: wicked person/evildoer
• *yĕšārîm*: upright ones/straight ones
• *bôḡēd*: betrayer/treacherous one/unfaithful person

Referenced Verses

• Prov 11:8 : 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead.
• Isa 43:3-4 : 3 For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead. 4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight, [and] honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life.
• Isa 53:4-5 : 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
• Isa 55:8-9 : 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• 1 Pet 3:18 : 18 Because Christ also {G3958} suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;