Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
Let us swallow them alive like the grave does, and completely destroy them like those who fall into the pit of death.
This verse shows wicked people plotting to completely destroy innocent victims, comparing their evil intentions to death itself.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Proverbs, attributed to King Solomon, this verse is part of a father's warning to his son about the dangers of associating with wicked people who plot evil schemes. The imagery of swallowing someone alive like the grave draws from ancient Near Eastern poetic language, symbolizing complete and irreversible destruction, much like death itself. This fits into the broader wisdom literature of the Old Testament, which contrasts the paths of righteousness and folly to guide moral living.
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