Proverbs 27:8

Like a bird that wanders ¹  from its nest, so is a person who wanders from his home. ² 

Ge 4:16; Ge 16:6-8; 1Sa 22:5; 1Sa 27:1-12; 1Ki 19:9; Ne 6:11-13; Job 39:14-16; Pr 21:16; Isa 16:2; Jon 1:3,10-17; 1Co 7:20; Jude 1:13

¹ tn The form נוֹדֶדֶת (nodedet) is the Qal participle from נָדַד (nadad), “to wander; to stray; to flutter; to retreat; to depart”; cf. NIV, NRSV, NLT “strays.” It will be directly paralleled with the masculine participle in the second colon.

² tn Heb “place” (so KJV, ASV); most other English versions translate as “home.”

sn The reason for the wandering from the nest/place is not given, but it could be because of exile, eviction, business, or irresponsible actions. The saying may be generally observing that those who wander lack the security of their home and cannot contribute to their community (e.g., the massive movement of refugees). It could be portraying the unhappy plight of the wanderer without condemning him over the reason for the flight.