Proverbs 29:1

The one who stiffens his neck ¹  after numerous rebukes ²  will suddenly be destroyed ³  without remedy. ⁴ 

biblegateway Pro 29:1

A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

biblegateway Pro 29:1

A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.

biblegateway Pro 29:1

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair.

biblegateway Pro 29:1

For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it'll be too late to help them.

SABDAweb Pro 29:1

A man hating sharp words and making his heart hard, will suddenly be broken and will not be made well again.

bibleoremus Pro 29:1

One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

biblegateway Pro 29:1

He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

biblegateway Pro 29:1

The one who stiffens his neck ¹  after numerous rebukes ²  will suddenly be destroyed ³  without remedy. ⁴ 

¹ tn The idiom “to harden the neck” (מַקְשֶׁה־עֹרֶף, maqsheh-’oref) is the idea of resisting the rebukes and persisting in obstinacy (e.g., Exod 32:9). The opposite of a “stiff neck” would be the bending back, i.e., submission.

² tn The Hebrew construction is אִישׁ תּוֹכָחוֹת (’ish tokhakhot, “a man of rebukes”), meaning “a man who has (or receives) many rebukes.” This describes a person who is deserving of punishment and who has been given many warnings. The text says, then, “a man of rebukes hardening himself.”

³ sn The stubborn person refuses to listen; he will suddenly be destroyed when the calamity strikes (e.g., Prov 6:15; 13:18; 15:10).

⁴ tn Or “healing” (NRSV).