What does this verse in the bible mean?

Published by: webmaster 2009-01-07

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death?"

Please help me out to tell me what this verse means!

I think this "Proverb" might refer to a warning that the bible shouldn't be taken literally, as indicated in a verse that follows: "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going." -- a warning repeated by Jesus in Matthew 7:23, by the way.

Only Jesus leads to eternal life it's better to put one's hope in God than to trust in man. God Made us he knows what to do with us. Seek his light and truth and ask him alot of questions. What have you got to lose?

meaning, many people think as long as they live a good life, they can get to heaven, but its actually a way to death... God way is not of this world's way, "the narrow path"... no easy but it leads to eternal life

Man doesn't know best-- God does.

What is the book/chapter/verse??

Not much of anything.

Could be pointing to a number of actions or activities. In the 21st century maybe it's abortion.

It means man invented jesus.

That man by himself without the help from heaven will not be able to recover from his sins, no matter what he thinks or does.

I'm not that well versed in the bible, but it seems to me that man cannot see far enough into the future to know the outcome of his actions.

Take smoking, for example. Smoking was the thing to do in the early and mid parts of the 20th century. Now we know (or strongly suspect) that smoking can lead to death.

Very often, people pursue happiness at the expense of their soul. They can justify because it *seems* morally right, but in the end it is actually the death of morality. There are many hot-button topics today that seem to many to be right, but in fact are destructive. Ultimately the authority on right and wrong is God.

That verse means that if a person follows their natural instincts as a way to please God and find salvation, they will not succeed.

The reason is that it takes faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. Our human nature is flawed and if we put our faith in what we THINK is right, we're wrong.

Hope that helps.

Try the Message Bible...
There's a way of life that looks harmless enough;
look again� �it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. Proverbs 14:12

Commentary: The ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers.

There's a way that looks harmless enough;
look again� �it leads straight to hell. Proverbs 16:25

Commentary: This is caution to all, to take heed of deceiving themselves as to their souls.

Sometimes people think being good can get you into heaven.... when in fact it is the belief that the son died on the cross for your sin that gets you to heaven. No one earns or deserves their salvation, Jesus paid that price on the cross and that is the only way in, not by being "good".

In my opinion, it means that man can justify his actions, even if they are wrong, and lead him down the path of destruction.

Like alot of the folks on this site, who have justified in their mind, that there is no God, and that Jesus was not the son of God. It seems so right to those folks, but its end is the way to death...

Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 both state this...it basically means that man's sinful and corrupt reason and logic lead hm to think that certain idea's or beliefs are true but they are not and will lead to eternal death and destruction. It tells us to question our own faulty human logic and understanding on matters pertaining to God and to adhere to God's true Word. When one observes the vast number of false or pagan religions and beliefs, flaws within the doctrines of some churches, misconceptions of the true Messiah in Judaism or even atheistic beliefs, these passages are crystal clear.....what many people believe is the truth of God or denial of God is really a deception of their own minds and hearts.