Proverbs 8:36 - Exposition

He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul. So Septuagint and Vulgate. And the truth stated is obvious—he who refuses to obey Wisdom, and transgresses her wholesome rules, will smart for it. Every sin involves punishment, injures the spiritual life, and demands satisfaction. But Delitzsch and others take חֹטְאִי , "my sinning one," "my sinner," in the older sense of "missing," as Job 5:24 , the derived meaning of "sinning" springing naturally from the idea of deviating from the right way or failing to hit the mark. So here the translation will be "he who misseth me," which is a good contrast to "whoso findeth me," of verse 35. He who takes a path which does not lead to wisdom is guilty of moral suicide. All that hate me love death ( Proverbs 7:27 ). "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" ( John 3:36 ). They who will not hearken to Wisdom, and who scorn her counsels, do virtually love death, because they love the things and the practices which lead to death, temporal and spiritual Job 12:10 , "They that sin are enemies to their own life" (comp. Wis. 1:12).