Proverbs 5:22

His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Proverbs 5:22 (KJV)

Context

This verse sits within a chapter that warns against the seductive words of an adulterous woman and urges faithfulness in marriage. Yet the principle here reaches beyond that specific danger. It speaks of wickedness in general, showing how a person’s own sins become the means of his capture. The image is like a snare or net: the wicked are entangled by their own actions.

Meaning

The word “iniquities” points to immoral or unjust behavior. The image of cords or ropes pictures the binding power of habitual sin. Each wrong choice tightens the cords, so the wicked person becomes trapped by what he has done. The more one sins, the tighter the cords become, leading to a cycle of destruction. The verse teaches personal responsibility: no one else must seize the wicked, for his own actions take him. Some may think they can escape or repent later, but repeated sin hardens the heart.

Biblical connections

This truth appears again in James 1:14-15, where desire gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully grown, brings death. Both passages agree that sin deceives and enslaves, and that judgment is often the natural result of a person’s own choices.

Application

Readers should examine their habits before those habits become chains. A small compromise may seem harmless, but repeated sin hardens the heart and makes escape harder. The wise response is to confess sin early and to seek God’s help while the cords are still loose. Avoid the path of sin, for it leads to self-entrapment; instead, pursue wisdom and righteousness.

Reflection

God’s moral order is just, yet it is also merciful. The warning of this verse is not meant to crush but to rescue. By showing the end of wickedness, Proverbs calls every person to choose the path of wisdom and righteousness, which leads to life and freedom.