Proverbs 1:11

1:11 If they say, “Come with us!

We will ¹  lie in wait ²  to shed blood; ³ 

we will ambush ⁴  an innocent person ⁵  capriciously. ⁶ 

Proverbs 12:6

12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait ⁷  to shed innocent blood, ⁸ 

but the words ⁹  of the upright will deliver them.

Isaiah 59:7

59:7 They are eager to do evil, ¹⁰ 

quick to shed innocent blood. ¹¹ 

Their thoughts are sinful;

they crush and destroy. ¹² 

Jeremiah 5:16

5:16 All of its soldiers are strong and mighty. ¹³ 

Their arrows will send you to your grave. ¹⁴ 

[1:11]  ¹ tn This cohortative נֶאֶרְבָה (ne’ervah) could denote resolve (“We will lie in wait!”) or exhortation (“Let us lie in wait!”). These sinners are either expressing their determination to carry out a violent plan or they are trying to entice the lad to participate with them.

[1:11]  ² tn The verb אָרַב (’arav, “to lie in wait”) it is used for planning murder (Deut 19:11), kidnapping (Judg 21:20), or seduction (Prov 23:28).

[1:11]  ³ tn Heb “for blood.” The term דָּם (dam, “blood”) functions as a metonymy of effect for “blood shed violently” through murder (HALOT 224 s.v. 4).

[1:11]  ⁴ tn Heb “lie in hiding.”

[1:11]  ⁵ tn The term “innocent” (נָקִי, naqi) intimates that the person to be attacked is harmless.

[1:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “without cause” (so KJV, NASB); NCV “just for fun.” The term חִנָּם (khinnam, “without cause”) emphasizes that the planned attack is completely unwarranted.

[12:6]  ⁷ tn The infinitive construct אֱרָב (’erav, “to lie in wait”) expresses the purpose of their conversations. The idea of “lying in wait for blood” is an implied comparison (hypocatastasis): Their words are like an ambush intended to destroy (cf. NAB, NRSV “are a deadly ambush”). The words of the wicked are here personified.

[12:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “for blood.” The term “blood” is a metonymy of effect, the cause being the person that they will attack and whose blood they will shed. After the construct “blood” is also an objective genitive.

[12:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “mouth.” The term פֶּה (peh, “mouth”) is a metonymy of cause, signifying what the righteous say. The righteous can make a skillful defense against false accusations that are intended to destroy. The righteous, who have gained wisdom, can escape the traps set by the words of the wicked.

[59:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “their feet run to evil.”

[59:7]  ¹¹ tn Heb “they quickly pour out innocent blood.”

[59:7]  ¹² tn Heb “their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways.”

[5:16]  ¹³ tn Heb “All of them are mighty warriors.”

[5:16]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “his quiver [is] an open grave.” The order of the lines has been reversed to make the transition from “nation” to “their arrows” easier.